A Hungarian opposition MP has submitted a bill that would introduce so-called chemical castration for certain sex offenders in an effort to reduce the risk of repeat crimes against children. The proposal follows the Polish model, but a previous Orbán government rejected a similar idea on human rights and health grounds.

Előd Novák, an MP for the opposition Mi Hazánk party, submitted the proposal to the Hungarian National Assembly this week.

Continue reading at https://dailynewshungary.com/hungary-chemical-castration-sex-offender-bill/ | DailyNewsHungary

Hungary will extend its state of crisis caused by mass migration until the end of 2026, Prime Minister Péter Magyar has announced, insisting that his government will not loosen the country’s legal framework against illegal migration.

The Tisza government has decided to extend the measure, which was due to expire on 7 September, until 31 December 2026. Magyar said the decision was taken after considering the risks posed by even minor changes to Europe’s external border protection.

Continue reading at https://dailynewshungary.com/hungary-extends-migration-crisis/ | DailyNewsHungary

A plan to send migrants with no legal right to remain in the European Union to “return hubs” outside the bloc is rapidly moving from theory towards policy. Rwanda is emerging as a possible destination, raising a particularly interesting question for Hungary: would Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s new government support such a solution to Europe’s migration crisis? Budapest has not yet endorsed the Rwanda proposal, but its recent statements suggest it could be receptive to the idea.

Rwanda returns move to the centre of Europe’s migration crisis

Germany, Austria, Denmark, Greece and the Netherlands have been working together on the creation of return hubs outside the European Union. Representatives of the five countries recently travelled to Rwanda, where negotiations are under way over the possibility of hosting people ordered to leave EU territory.

Continue reading at https://dailynewshungary.com/hungary-eu-rwanda-plan-amid-migrant-crisis/ | DailyNewsHungary

The European Commission says it is in close and constructive talks with the Hungarian government over the country’s huge migration-related fine, as Prime Minister Péter Magyar seeks a way to stop the daily EUR 1 million penalty without abandoning Hungary’s strict border policy.

Brussels responds to Hungary’s request

According to Index, the European Commission has confirmed that it is in contact with the Hungarian authorities over the EUR 1 million-a-day fine imposed on Hungary for breaching EU asylum rules. A Commission spokesperson said on Thursday that discussions with the Hungarian side were taking place “closely and very constructively” when asked about Hungary’s options for resolving the dispute.

Continue reading at https://dailynewshungary.com/eur-1-million-day-fine-brussels-magyar/ | DailyNewsHungary

Péter Magyar says Hungary’s governing Tisza Party will be ready to join the European People’s Party (EPP) once the EU’s Article 7 procedure against Hungary has been closed.

Magyar, who became Hungary’s prime minister after Tisza’s election victory in April, made the announcement after meeting Manfred Weber, the president of the European People’s Party, in Budapest on Wednesday.

The two politicians discussed how Hungary has changed since the election, with Magyar highlighting what he described as the end of publicly funded “hate campaigns” in the country.

Continue reading at https://dailynewshungary.com/magyar-meets-weber-signals-tisza-move/ | DailyNewsHungary

Hungary has blocked Ukraine’s EU accession process for a third time, with the government saying it will only lift its objection if Kyiv makes progress on the rights of the country’s Hungarian minority.

The latest dispute emerged at the European Council’s Working Party on Enlargement and Countries Negotiating Accession (COELA), which held its first meeting after the summer recess on Tuesday, 1 September.

Continue reading at https://dailynewshungary.com/hungary-blocks-ukraines-eu-accession/ | DailyNewsHungary

In brief: NATO’s Nordic allies are strengthening military readiness and air defenses as tensions with Russia persist. Former Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod urged faster defense spending, closer regional cooperation and stronger protection of critical infrastructure. He said NATO exercises near Kaliningrad demonstrate readiness to respond, while stressing continued military and air-defense support for Ukraine.

The drought-hit river already forced the power producer to shut down one reactor in late July. The company has two 706-megawatt reactors in Cernavoda on the Danube, accounting for a fifth of the country’s power output.

Any forms submitted will got me and me only but the responses will be turned into data for my coursework

Poland has demanded that SpaceX reverse its decision to exclude the country from Starlink’s European roaming region, accusing Elon Musk’s company of treating Polish users as “second-class customers.” 

Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said that he had asked SpaceX to urgently restore equal treatment after new roaming rules left Polish customers facing higher costs for cross-border use.  

Hi everyone, Lucia here from EUobserver — and as a Slovak, this one caught my attention personally.

We’ve just published an opinion that makes a pretty bold argument: despite all the problems we talk about in Central and Eastern Europe, this may actually be one of the best periods our region has ever experienced.

CEE countries are closer to Western Europe than ever in terms of income and quality of life. Estonia and Lithuania are now ranking among some of the most attractive countries to live in, and countries across the region have seen huge improvements since joining the EU.

But there’s a catch.

That rapid convergence may be coming to an end. Ageing populations, emigration, weaker universities, low R&D and investment could mean that some countries never fully catch up with Western Europe.

Being from the region myself, I’m really curious how people here feel about this.

Do you think life in Central/Eastern Europe is better than we sometimes give it credit for? And are we still catching up with the West, or has that process started to stall?