EU foreign language help
Hungarian citizens fall well behind their European Union peers in knowledge of other languages, European Commissioner for Multilingualism, Leonard Orban, told state newswire MTI during his trip to Budapest on Monday (Sep 29). Orban arrived in Budapest to announce that the EU will earmark hundreds of millions of euros to improve language instruction, of which, he hoped, Hungary will make good use.The Commissioner cited a recent Eurobarometer survey concluding that only a quarter of Hungarians speak even one foreign language. “The European Commission is prepared to help Hungary to provide language training for as many people as possible,” Orban was quoted as saying by MTI.The EU has set the target of having all EU citizens speak at least two languages.
Szent-Iványi elected
The Liberal Alliance of Free Democrats (SzDSz) has elected MEP István Szent-Iványi as its national council party president by one single vote on Saturday (Sep 27). Szent-Iványi received 46 votes, his rival, Miklós Hankó Faragó, received 45. Analysts highlight that the real difference between the two nominees was Szent-Iványi being a supporter of the incumbent president Gábor Fodor, while Faragó is deemed to be a staunch backer of the former president and current parliamentary group leader, János Kóka. At its Saturday meeting, the party also approved the tax proposal, elaborated by Kóka, the essence of which is “to quickly reduce the state budget deficit while ensuring that at least 80% of taxpayers are in the 18% personal income tax bracket.” The proposal was submitted to the House on Monday (Sep 30).
Megyeri bridge opens
The Megyeri Bridge over the Danube north of Budapest was finally opened to traffic on Tuesday (Sep 30). The bridge is a part of the M0 orbital motorway around Budapest, and is currently Hungary’s longest bridge, with a span of 3,200m. The bridge suffered nine months of delays, and was built at a total cost of some Ft62bn ($370m). Although the final phase of the bridge’s construction was surrounded by outrage on behalf of surrounding villages, the bridge received a temporary utilization permit from authorities. Along with the bridge, two short sections of the M0 motorway were also opened to traffic: one leading to the Dunakeszi junction of highway 2A, the other connecting the bridge with a junction on route 11 on the “Buda” side.
30.09.2008