Latest news with #BalázsHankó
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
UAE and Hungary strengthen partnership to support families and drive social innovation
Dubai, UAE – The United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Hungary have strengthened their bilateral relationship with a cooperation agreement signed by the UAE Ministry of Family and the Hungarian Ministry of Culture and Innovation, with an aim to widen cooperation on family policy, cultural development, social innovation, and youth empowerment. This cooperation forms part of the two countries' shared commitment to supporting the family, prioritising it as the key pillar of the community, social cohesion, and sustainable development. UAE Minister of Family Her Excellency Sana bint Mohammed Suhail asserted that the cooperation agreement with the Hungarian Ministry of Culture and Innovation is a pivotal step towards promoting the role of the family as a building block for cohesive and sustainable communities. 'This partnership underscores our dedication at the Ministry of Family to sharing knowledge and best practices with our international partners, in order to support policies that empower families and promote the health and wellbeing of all family members – and particularly, the youth,' H.E. the Minister added. 'Our cooperation with Hungary will facilitate our efforts to launch innovative initiatives rooted in our culture and social values. It is set to open up new prospects for collaboration in early childhood education and parent empowerment, which, in turn, lays the foundations for inclusive and sustainable development in both countries.' For his part, H.E. Balázs Hankó, Hungarian Minister of Culture and Innovation, said: 'Hungarian society takes pride in the fact that, despite all the challenges and developments in today's world, we continue to uphold the belief that the family is the cornerstone of the entire community. We also believe in the importance of the extended family and intergenerational bonds built on mutual respect and sharing. These are values that we share with the United Arab Emirates, and that will serve as the basis for our efforts to strengthen ties between our two nations.' 'At the same time, Hungary has a national vision to become an advanced digital and industrial state,' H.E. Hankó continued. 'However, we are facing demographic challenges, and with that in mind, we look forward to exchanging expertise with our counterparts in the UAE – a country that has become a regional and global model in supporting families and promoting social innovation. This is a strategic priority for us, not merely a short-term step.' A Strong Family for a Cohesive Society The collaboration agreement between the UAE Ministry of Family and the Hungarian Ministry of Culture and Innovation, aims to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise between the two partners in all areas related to family policy, social initiatives, and cultural activities. It reflects a shared vision that prioritises strengthening family bonds, ensuring balance between work and family life, and strengthening intergenerational relationships, which helps build stronger and more cohesive societies. The agreement seeks to launch initiatives targeting the youth and designed to support family values among them, foster intergenerational dialogue, and explore innovative solutions to contemporary family issues. Cooperation also includes organising joint research projects bringing together specialised institutions from both countries to focus particularly on topics such as family statistics and shifting social roles. Moreover, the agreement aims to empower parents by developing support systems, flexible policies, and family-friendly work environments. In addition to developing a clear roadmap toward increasing parental awareness through comprehensive and sustainable programmes. Advancing Knowledge Exchange The partnership's execution framework includes hosting joint seminars, conferences, and policy discussions, as well as delegations and expert visits. It also involves the creation of collaborative research projects, awareness campaigns, study tours, and training programmes designed to develop the skills of professionals working in related social and cultural fields. The three-year renewable collaboration is a testament to both parties' sincere desire to build a long-term relationship that benefits families and the community. The agreement presents a practical framework that embodies a shared commitment to building bridges for constructive collaboration and knowledge sharing, which, in turn, serves the interests of both countries. Furthermore, the agreement reflects the shared vision between the UAE and Hungary to build prosperous societies that place families at their core, prioritising innovation and cultural integration as an engine towards a more inclusive and stable future.
Budapest Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Budapest Times
Hankó: It is time to launch a rule-of-law procedure against Brussels
Balázs Hankó said Hungary was not alone, with the MEPs of several other countries expressing their support for family protection and normality at the initiative of the Patriots for Europe group. Balázs Hankó, the minister for culture and innovation, said in Strasbourg on Tuesday: 'It is time to launch a rule-of-law procedure against Brussels, too, because what Brussels is doing to Hungary lacks any legal basis.' The rule-of-law procedure launched against Hungary 'severely discriminates against Hungarian university students, researchers and families', the minister said. 'Manfred Weber, Ursula von der Leyen and the Tisza Party that supports them are striving for power, and their goal is to erase Hungarian identity — but we won't allow it,' he added. Hankó, who took part in a conference on Hungary's child protection law in the European Parliament, said Europe's competitiveness was based on strong nations, which were based on strong families, having children, and higher education, research and innovation that 'answers real questions'. Hankó said the EU's infringement procedure against Hungary over its child protection law was based on an expectation that 'gender propaganda and sexual content should be let into Hungarian schools' and made accessible in the media to those under the age of 18. But, he added, Hungary would not comply because 3.5 million people expressed their opposition to 'gender propaganda' in a 2022 referendum. Hankó said it was good to see in Strasbourg that Hungary was not alone, with the MEPs of several other countries expressing their support for family protection and normality at the initiative of the Patriots for Europe group. Concerning the exclusion of Hungarian students from the Erasmus programme, the minister said he had held talks with the deputy secretary general of the Council of Europe because 'the EU's discrimination also concerns the students of the Council of Europe's 46 countries'. 'There are many researchers coming to Hungary from CoE countries, and they can't be excluded,' he added.
Budapest Times
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Budapest Times
Night of Museums to be held on June 21 and will feature 2,700 programs
Balázs Hankó, the culture and innovation minister, said on Wednesday that the Night of Museums will be held on June 21 and feature some 2,700 programs at 470 public locations. Last year, more than 330,000 visitors attended the event, Hankó said. 'The Night of Museums is a miracle when hundreds of thousands visit our museums in the whole Carpathian Basin.' 'Visiting museums is a program for young people, children, families and generations,' he said, where 'we experience all that makes us a nation, all that makes us Hungarians.' This year is special as programs of the memorial year marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of author Mor Jokai are also joining the event.
Budapest Times
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Budapest Times
Hankó: Brussels sees sexual propaganda as more important than the protection of children
Balázs Hankó, the minister of culture and innovation, said in Luxembourg on Thursday that Brussels sees sexual propaganda as more important than the protection of children, 'but we don't agree with that.' Commenting on an opinion published by the Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) saying that Hungary's child protection law infringed on EU law, Hankó said 'Brussels launched a lawsuit against Hungary because we … enshrined in the Fundamental Law our view that the protection of children is the top priority and we say no to continued gender activism in schools, kindergartens, the streets, public spaces and the media.' 'While the CJEU sees gender propaganda as a fundamental value of the EU, the Hungarian government sees the protection of families as a core value,' he said. 'The court is engaging all sorts of legal obstacles and legalese when it says that the benefits of media, advertising and electronic services are more important than the protection of our children,' Hankó said. Hungary's stance is clear, he said: the sexual education of children is in the hands of the parents, 'and gender activists and sexual propaganda has nothing to do with it. The lawsuit continues; we will continue to stand up for our children and families,' he said. Hanko insisted that 'Brussels and gender propaganda' had 'overtaken' the CJEU. He said Hungary was ready to 'shoulder the legal costs' of the 16 member states which earlier joined the EC lawsuit, 'because the protection of children comes before everything else'. 'The interference of Ursula von der Leyen's European Commission, the European Parliament manipulated by Manfred Weber, and the 16 states that joined [the lawsuit] will be in vain. We are ready to do everything in our power for our children and normality,' Hankó said. He said that normality meant 'that we can determine who we want to live with, that we say no to illegal migration, no to gender propaganda, and no to the fast-tracked EU integration of Ukraine, which are contrary to Hungarian socio-economic interests.'
Budapest Times
04-06-2025
- Business
- Budapest Times
Hankó: Government values all Hungarian talent
Balázs Hankó, the minister for culture and innovation, said the Hungarian government values all Hungarian talent and is committed to running a talent management system that supports and improves Hungarian talent around the world. Speaking at the 'Talent's Talk 2025' event in Vienna, Minister Hankó said the government has allocated 400 million forints (EUR 990,000) for the next academic year's Stipendium Peregrinum scholarship scheme for Hungarian students who have applied to the world's best universities. Meanwhile, Minister Hankó said the Pannonia scholarship programme has given more than 3,000 young Hungarians the chance to gain experience at Europe's and the world's leading universities over the past semester. The government has also increased funding for young Hungarian researchers this year to 40 billion forints from 19 billion, the minister said. He noted that Hungary's aim is to have a university among the world's top 100 institutions by 2030, and for Hungary to be among the ten most innovative countries in the European Union.
