Hungary's Renewed Nation Policy
Supporting the Hungarian communities living in neighbouring countries in safeguarding and developing their national identity, mother tongue and cultural tradition in their native lands is a constitutional responsibility of the Government of the Republic of Hungary deriving from our national interest and moral obligation. Hungarian foreign policy regards the promotion and implementation of these goals through its own particular means as a task of outstanding importance.
1.) The change of the context of nation policy
Having achieved membership in the European Union, Hungary has entered a new epoch of its nation policy from two points of view. With the accession of our country to the European Union and with the enlargement of the Euro-Atlantic integration having extended to a significant part of our region, the external conditions for the preservation of the Hungarian nation have undergone fundamental changes heading in a positive direction. Parallel to this, recent years have resulted in the development of the basic institutional system required for the stay and growth in the native land and the accumulation of experience required for the operation of these institutions.
The enlargement of the European Union in the direction of Central Europe has resulted in a new situation with regard to the future of the Hungarian communities living in the seven neighbouring countries. Austria was followed by Slovakia and Slovenia as states with a Hungarian minority that are members of the European Union. We are hopeful , that in 2007, Romania, the country with the most sizeable Hungarian minority will follow them suit in acceding to the European Union. Hungarians in Croatia will hopefully be able to live their Hungarian nationality with the framework of European integration in the near future, as well, while Hungarians in the Sub-Carpathian region and Vojvodina will only be able to do so in the longer term.
This fundamentally new situation requires the phrasing and gradual implementation of a nation policy building on the results of all governmental cycles of the past one and a half decade, while also living up to new challenges. The central idea of the nation policy pursued by the Government includes the unification of the Hungarian nation in a European Union perspective, the promotion of the preservation and growth of the Hungarian communities living abroad within their native lands, through the utilisation of the means given by EU integration and (primarily economic) cooperation. Our primary task to this end is to implement a policy offering success and competitiveness in Europe to the Hungarian people, as well as a system of support to prepare for the opportunities provided by the EU.
Despite the positive changes in the past one and a half decade, there have also been some developments having a detrimental impact on the Hungarians living in the Carpathian Basin. There has, first and foremost, been a significant decrease in numbers of the Hungarian communities proportionately exceeding that of the majority societies, which may be explained only partly by the unfavourable demographic changes that have taken place in our region. The negative social processes implied by the changes in the region have been a key reason for this decrease of the population. Hungary’s policies as well as those of the associations of Hungarians living in neighbouring countries must therefore concentrate much more than ever before on the advancement of Hungarians in social, economic and educational terms, and on the creation and enhancement of competitiveness at a European level.
Making use of the historic opportunity of European unification, in the broadening scope of action of Hungarian foreign policy, we shall conceive relations between the mother country and the Hungarian communities living in the neighbouring countries in a new, differentiated system of relationships. The Government is conscious of the fact that the implementation of its nation policy goals requires an inter-Hungarian dialogue, co-operation with the neighbouring countries, as well as the reinforcement and further development of European values. The implementation of a nation policy in accordance with the new European and regional realities, as well as the determination of the common goals and available means must be a joint responsibility of institutions in Hungary and legitimate Hungarian organisations abroad.
2.) Fundamental tasks related to the implementation of the renewed nation policy
Our diplomatic strategy is focused on the reunification of the Hungarian nation in the framework of the European Union. Hungarian foreign policy has already in the course of the past three years been dealing with the affairs of Hungarians abroad in this spirit, strengthening co-operation and seeking consensus, and representing their interest in an efficient manner in accordance with European norms, as in the case of the amendment of the Law on Hungarians living in Neighbouring Countries. It is an achievement of importance also from the point of view of the future that the Constitutional Treaty of the Union refers to minority rights in the context of common values.
The efficient representation of the cause of Hungarians living abroad at international fora continues to be an outstanding task of Hungarian foreign policy. Sensibility to the question of minorities is a well-known and accepted characteristic feature of Hungarian diplomacy.
The most important change that came about with the accession of our country to the Union is that we have become an active participant in the shaping of European policy, which means new opportunities, as well as responsibilities:
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possibilities to have goals important for Hungary included in European decision-making, whether of economic (e.g. closing up), or political (e.g. the strengthening of regional stability, the protection of minorities) nature;
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while, on the other hand, greater influence exerted on European policy also implies greater responsibility, as we have to phrase our ideas in a way understandable and acceptable to our European partners as well.
The EU membership of Hungary, Slovakia, and Slovenia, and the future accession of Romania, as well as the promising developments concerning the possibility of Croatia’s EU-accession, have initiated processes, which may recreate the historically developed, then artificially destroyed texture of economic and cultural relations in our region. There are examples of the renaissance of historical sub-regions not only with our EU-neighbours, but also promising signs of cross-border co-operation with Romania, Ukraine, and Serbia. In order to reinforce these processes, it is of great importance to conciliate domestic development plans with the ideas of the neighbours, already in the hope of drawing EU funds.
The respective goals of our nation policy and our neighbourhood policy are closely inter-related. We therefore support and promote the ambitions of the neighbouring countries to join the European integration, and strive to have Hungarian nation policy aspects represented in the EU’s external relations. Hungary is particularly interested in the success of the Thessaloniki Agenda and the EU’s neighbourhood policy. It is our basic political, economic, and nation-political interest to have the South Eastern European region, and in particular our direct neighbours meet the criteria of accession, and become members of the organisations of Euro-Atlantic integration as soon as possible. We have a similar interest in having Ukraine receive a European perspective, as well.
It is our long-term political goal for the European integration of the states of the region to constitute the re-integration of the Hungarian community living in the Carpathian Basin as well. It is an important goal of ours to ensure free contacts between Hungarians – not impeded by borders - and the re-establishment of natural linguistic, cultural, economic, and infrastructural relations, something that may only be accomplished through the full-fledged EU- membership of all states of the Carpathian Basin.
Hungarian diplomacy shall pursue its activities aiming at the assertion of Hungarian interests in Europe in two directions:
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Concerted and efficient steps shall be taken in the framework of relevant European institutions, especially EU fora for the minority issue to be emphasized within the EU in a way corresponding to its significance. Hungary shall take an initiative role in the processes aiming at the protection of minority rights within and outside of the EU. We shall strive to have our ideas become a part of EU-thinking, practice and, if possible, of the acquis communautaire, thus contributing to the development of an international system for the protection of minorities that is coherent and operable.
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In order to broaden the set of means of our nation policy, our country shall participate actively in forming the related policies of the EU:
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visa policy,
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establishment of the principles of cross-border co-operation,
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establishment of a system for cross-border trade.
3.) The set of means of the renewed nation policy – the Motherland Programme
Along with the task of lobbying in Europe, it is necessary to implement the Programme of National Responsibility, in which the Government has summed up the key issues of nation policy,
The Programme of National Responsibility consists of five points.
1. The Motherland Programme offers new means for the safeguarding of the Hungarian identity of the Hungarians living in neighbouring countries, with a new, more differentiated system to support their competitiveness in a pragmatic manner. Its aim is to enable the attachment to the Hungarian language and culture to be a simultaneous possibility to jointly live the European identity of the unified Hungarian nation. As a part of the Motherland Programme, we intend to encourage and provide an economic foundation to the well-being of the Hungarians living in neighbouring countries in their native land, through the implementation of the Act on the Motherland Fund , submitted by the Government and adopted by the National Assembly on 14 February 2005, and amended on 18 April, which established a separate financial fund providing support for the development of entrepreneurship, as well as for regional and cross-border co-operation, and cultural and educational activities. The Government regulates the operation of the Fund through the Decree on Implementation adopted on 8 June. Its conceptual steering body of the Fund is the Council, which held its first session at the end of July. In the course of Autumn, three specialised boards were established within it, and its tenders were published. The evaluation of these will expectedly take place before the end of the year, and the first successful applicants may receive the support theywill have been awarded. Through the Motherland Fund, we shall transform bilateral and multilateral economic relations in the Carpathian Basin into a regional development policy, in which co-operation between the Government and the Hungarian organisations abroad will be characterised by transparency, EU-conformity, and accountability.
The Government, with its Decree No. 1128/2004, has also launched an economic development and job creation framework programme , the basic purpose of which is to promote economic relations, enhance the establishment of new enterprise relations, and create development investments, which enable the internationalisation of enterprises with a seat in Hungary. The programme builds on the existing institutional system, the key actors of which include the Hungarian Development Bank (MFB), Eximbank, Hungarian Export Credit Insurance (MEHIB), Corvinus International Investment Co., the New Shakehands Foundation (Új Kézfogás Alapítvány), and the Hungarian Investment and Trade Development Agency (ITDH). The programme provides for the a possibility to spend HUF 25 billion on regional economic development, particularly on encouraging Hungarian companies to invest in the region.
2. National visa . We shall issue this special kind of visa to those, who wish to visit Hungary regularly, for longer periods of time, to safeguard their language, cultural and national identity or to cultivate their family relations. In order to achieve the goals identified in item 2 of the programme, the Government introduced a bill on the amendment of Act XXXIX of 2001 on the Entry and Stay of Foreign Nationals, which the National Assembly adopted on 6 June 2005.
This amendment has established a special type of residence permit, the so-called national visa, which is valid for maximum five years (the visa may not be issued for contracting work, and for educational and scientific purposes). The amendment of this law enters into force on 1 January 2006, so that this type of visa may only be issued on 3 January 2006 at the very earliest, at the foreign representations concerned, where the increase of personnel required for performing additional tasks shall take place already in 2005.
3. The purpose of the expert group dealing with naturalisation, led by a government commissioner, is to make procedures required by the Act on Citizenship and Alien Control faster and fairer by substantially shortening deadlines, and by reducing as well as liberalising bureaucratic procedures to the greatest extent possible. With a view to implementing this programme, the Government introduced a bill on the amendment of Act LV of 1993 on Hungarian Citizenship, which the National Assembly adopted on 6 June 2005.
According to this amendment, administrative deadlines will be shortened considerably (applications for naturalisation or re-naturalisation may be filed immediately upon entry, so that it is not necessary to wait one year, and citizenship may be obtained within 18 months starting from the filing of the application), the scope of those exempted from the obligation to take an examination on basic constitutional knowledge will be broadened, and the administrative burden falling on the clients will be reduced (it will be sufficient to make a declaration concerning the documents held ex officio by the authority, etc.). The amendment of the law will enter into force on 1 January 2006 .
4. The European integration of our region helps minority communities to live more and more with the means of self-government in numerous areas. Such means and forms, providing a framework for autonomous community existence, include the decentralisation of public administration, self-government, and the application of the basic European principle of subsidiarity. European examples show that autonomy is an efficient means and context of the co-existence of different peoples.
The Government therefore firmly supports the quest for autonomy of the Hungarian communities living in neighbouring countries, in accordance with European practices and the spirit of international norms, as a means of regulating their situation on the basis of constitutional equality. The phrasing of concrete goals is influenced by the domestic political situation and the situation of the minorities in the given country, the openness of the majority nation, the weight of the Hungarian minority, the possibilities of applying solutions successfully utilised in other European countries, and the quality of bilateral relations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continuously examines the possibilities of supporting the quests for autonomy. Making use of available means, we are taking an initiative stance. At the same time, it is important to have supporters in the international scene for our proposals, and for our steps initiated with regard to minorities to be in accordance with our other steps aiming at contributing to the establishment of European norms.
Moving further ahead requires Hungarian organisations abroad to develop their own positions. The Hungarian Government gives its support to proposals that are submitted by legitimate Hungarian organisations. It is also clear to us that the situation and the possibilities of the individual organisations vary from country to country, which means that there are countries where the concept of autonomy may already be proclaimed, while in others it is more advisable to advance step-by-step. Only the Hungarian community living abroad is able to take a position on the extent and forms enabling the effectuation of such autonomy, and on how this may be received within the majority nation.
The Hungarian Government intends to utilise both high- and expert-level negotiations, as well as international fora for the purpose of harmonisation (such as the system of joint committees helping the implementation of the basic agreements concluded on the basis of agreements on minority protection). We intend to maintain a continuous dialogue with the EU member states and the governments of the neighbouring countries.
5. National citizenship. On November 5 th , at the talks with the leaders of Hungarian organisations abroad, Mr. Prime Minister raised the possibility of incorporating in the constitution the responsibility for Hungarians living in neighbouring countries, and the concept of the cultural nation. The details are being elaborated by experts, on the basis of the legitimate positions of the Hungarian minorities.
last modified: 28 November 2005