Hungary (Magyarország) and Slovenia (Slovenija) Hungary and Slovenia were among the former Slovenia is a parliamentary republic where executive Communist countries that joined the European Union on power is shared between the President, currently Dr. 1 May 2004. Both are central European countries that Danilo Turk and the Prime Minister, set to be Zoran share a common border. Hungary also borders Slovakia, Jankovic, leader of the Positive Slovenia party, once a Czech Republic, Romania, Croatia, Austria, Serbia and coalition agreement has been formed. The Parliament has Ukraine. Meanwhile Slovenia, which was formerly part two chambers. The 90 member National Assembly of Yugoslavia, has borders with Austria, Italy and (Državni Zbor) is directly elected and appoints the 40 Croatia. The two countries were at the forefront of the member National Council (Državni Svet). move from Communism to liberal democracy in central Relations with the EU Europe and have since made a very successful transition to the market economy. Membership of the EU was an important political goal of both these countries. Having moved away from the Recent History Communist system, both made strong efforts to distance Communist rule in Hungary ended in 1989 when the themselves from eastern Europe and to become more Hungarian Communist Party voluntarily gave up power integrated with the West. In particular, they made efforts under pressure for political reform. The Third Hungarian to identify themselves as central European countries – Republic was declared on 23 October 1989 and free alongside Austria and Germany – rather than as part of elections were held in 1990, marking the start of the Communist sphere of influence. 70% of Hungary’s democratic government in the country. Hungary quickly trade is now with the EU, for Slovenia the figure is 66%. developed a strong party system and has had an orderly They have made significant attempts to make themselves transfer of power between the centre-right and centre- more like other European countries, particularly by left. The key aims of the Hungarian government have pursuing a programme of privatising formerly state been to develop a more open, liberal economy and to owned companies, although this process has been slower forge closer links with western Europe. A major step in Slovenia. Both countries are now aiming for greater forward was achieved in 1999, when Hungary became a participation in EU projects. For example in December member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 2007 both countries became part of the Schengen zone (NATO). This was followed by EU membership in 2004. enabling free movement across national borders. Slovenia However, the introduction of a controversial new also held the Presidency of the European Council for the constitution in Hungary on 1 January 2012 sparked first half of 2008, the first former Communist country to concerns about the curtailing of freedoms and was do so, and Hungary took over the Presidency on 1 marked by protests. January 2011. When they joined in 2004, neither country Slovenia was the first republic of the Federal Republic of adopted the Euro immediately, although Slovenia did Yugoslavia to break away, when it declared its subsequently on 1 January 2007. This involved independence in June 1991. While the rest of the maintaining strong control over inflation and borrowing. federation collapsed into ethnic civil war, Slovenia Hungary is currently trying to meet the convergence escaped following only a very brief conflict. Slovenia criteria, but the country was hit particularly badly by the was recognised by the United Nations (UN) in May global financial crisis and October 2008 saw the value of 1992. In the years following independence, Slovenia its currency, the forint, plummet. The International established a successful liberal democracy that pursued a Monetary Fund (IMF), the EU and the World Bank policy of steady economic reform. Slovenia succeeded in granted Hungary a $25 billion rescue package in 2008. securing membership of NATO and the EU in the same Facts and Figures year – 2004. In September 2011 the coalition in the The majority of Slovenes work in manufacturing jobs, with Slovenian government collapsed following a vote of no the exports to the EU making up a significant part of their confidence related to the ratification of the EU bailout market. fund. Elections were called for December 2011. Hungary’s economic growth has slowed since its 4.5% level Government Structure in 2005; it reached a low of 1.4% in 2007 and was just 1.2% in 2010. Both countries are representative parliamentary Slovenia’s economic growth has also fallen since it reached republics. In Hungary, the Prime Minster is the head of 5.7% in 2006. Its growth in 2010 was, like Hungary, just the executive and sponsors legislation. The current 1.2%. government is led by Viktor Orbán of the conservative Hungary continues to have serious difficulties with Fidesz-Hungarian Civic Union party, which was elected employment: the unemployment rate in January 2011 was in April 2010 with the biggest victory at a Hungarian 12.1%. general election since the fall of communism twenty Technical Terms years ago. There was concern when the far-right party Convergence Criteria: the rules set down in the Maastricht Jobbik won a large part of the vote - almost beating the Treaty that all countries have to meet in order to qualify for Socialist Party (MSZP), which had ruled the country membership of the Euro. since 2002. The MSZP had faced problems because it led Links a minority government, which made governing more http://www.gov.si/ difficult. The President, currently Pal Schmitt, is elected http://www.kormany.hu/en by the legislature for a term of five years and has a http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/1 mainly ceremonial role. Hungary has a single chamber 097296.stm Parliament (Országgyűlés) with 386 members. It has the https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world- factbook/geos/hu.html power to initiate legislation. © CIVITAS Institute for the Study of Civil Society 2007 Author: Wil James, Civitas 05/2006 http://civitas.org.uk/eufacts/FSMS/MS13.htm Last Update: Lucy Hatton, 01/2012 .