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Foreign policy of Hungary from 1990 to 2010

Foreign policy of Hungary from 1990 to 2010. Hungary’s foreign policy and its external economic relations since 1914 up till the present Prepared by Endre Domonkos, Dr. habil. (PhD) Academic Year, 2018/2019 Spring Semester. I. Geopolitical changes in the years of 1990-93.

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Foreign policy of Hungary from 1990 to 2010

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  1. Foreign policy of Hungary from 1990 to 2010 Hungary’s foreign policy and its external economic relations since 1914 up till the present Prepared by Endre Domonkos, Dr. habil. (PhD) Academic Year, 2018/2019 Spring Semester

  2. I. Geopolitical changes in the years of 1990-93 • The crucial changes of international relations between 1990 and 1993 (the disappearance of the bipolar world-order). • The dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, Comecon and the USSR in 1991. • The reunification of Germany on 3rd October 1990. • Major regional upheavals occurred in the ECE region: the split of Czechoslovakia on 1st January 1993 + the break-up of multi-ethnic Yugoslavia between 1991 and 1995. • Hungary’s precarious political situation: the emergence of 22 new countries in the region by the disintegration of the USSR, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia.

  3. II. The foreign policy of the Antall (Boross) government (1990-1994) I. • The modification of Hungary’s position and possible role within European politics by the global and regional alignments. • The new foreign policy doctrine of the Antall government: • the Euro-Atlantic orientation (integration) of Hungary; • the re-formulation of regional policy or „neighbourhood policy”; • to assist and provide the effective defence for the interests of Hungarian minorities in other countries. • One of the most important aims: to regain the country’s sovereignty.

  4. II. The foreign policy of the Antall (Boross) government (1990-1994) II. • The withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary: it started in April 1989 and finished on 19th June 1991. • Financial dispute between Hungary and the USSR on the withdrawal of Soviet troops. • The dismemberment of the Warsaw Pact and Comecon: real breakthrough occurred at the beginning of 1991 (to disband the military structure of the WP by April of 1991). • On 28th June 1991: the dissolution of Comecon + dissolution of the Warsaw Pact on 1st July. • The restoration of full sovereignty of the Hungarian Republic.

  5. III. The Euro-Atlantic orientation and integration I. • The gradual extension of relations with the Western European integrational institutions. • The government programme of József Antall: the broadest possible involvement in the European integration processes as the top priority of foreign policy goal. • Contacts were made with the European Communities, NATO and EFTA. • On 6th November 1990 Hungary became the member of the Council of Europe.

  6. III. The Euro-Atlantic orientation and integration II. • NATO and the European Community (now EU): to set various preconditions for the acceding ECE countries. • The start of „Partnership for Peace” programme by NATO in January 1994: the active participation of Hungary. • The transformation of the Hungarian army to fulfil the requirements of NATO membership (the adoption of Home Defence Bill in 1993, which reduced the armed forces considerably in its peacetime strength, to overhaul the armed forces /command organisation/ + to use the Hungarian airspace and military bases near Hungary’s southern frontiers with former Yugoslavia).

  7. III. The Euro-Atlantic orientation and integration III. • The signing of articles of associate membership to the European Community on 16th December 1991: the abolition of import restrictions on Hungarian industrial products by the EEC, but lack of provisions for free trade in the agricultural sector (asymmetric opening of the markets by the parties + broadening of financial support programmes and institutionalised regular political dialogue). • The announcement of the entry conditions for the acceding countries in 1993: the Copenhagen criteria. • In the spring of 1994: the application of Hungary’s membership in the European Community.

  8. IV. Regional policy of the Antall (Boross) government • The neighbourhood policy: to assert national interests + to exploit Hungary’s favourable geographical and political situation (Hungary as a „ferry” country). • Three important regional initiatives: • The expansion of the Alpine-Adriatic Working Group with Czechoslovakia, Poland in 1991 and during 1992-93 with the various Yugoslavian successor states. • The establishment of the „Visegrád Three” cooperation: joint representation and cooperation, but not an alternative to Western integrational institutions (the conclusion of the CEFTA agreement in 1992). • The creation of regional forum by a group of states (Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine and Hungary) on 14th February 1993.

  9. V. The protection of the Hungarian minorities I. • Enhanced protection for Hungarian minorities as the third priority of the Antallgovernment. • The introduction of the unique concepts of nation politics (the cultural unity of the Hungarian nation and the Hungarians as a whole). • The launch of Duna Televízió in late 1992: the first Hungarian language TV channel to be broadcast via satellite. • Minority issue: not a singularly Hungarian problem (the case of European ethnic and national minorities). • The unique situation of Hungary in the region.

  10. Hungarian minorities in the neighbouring countries • ROMANIA 1.440.000 • SLOVAKIA 520.500 • SERBIA 293.000 • UKRAINE 170.000 • CROATIA 16.500 • SLOVENIA 10.000 • AUSTRIA 70.000 • Altogether 2.520.000 • Source: Demographic survey – Facts on Hungary, MoFA, Hungary

  11. V. The protection of the Hungarian minorities II. • The proper treatment of the Hungarian minorities in the neighbouring countries: precondition for the establishment of bilateral relations. • To guarantee the non-violation of existing borders by the basic treaties: agreements signed with Ukraine, Slovenia and Croatia. • The creation of the Office Responsible for Hungarians Beyond the Borders + the adoption of a law on the protection of minorities. • The consensus of the foreign policy objectives (the so-called triad) by the subsequent governments.

  12. VI. The foreign policy of the Horn government (1994-1998) I. • Special attention to the Euro-Atlantic integration of Hungary: it became a top priority. • The creation of the State Secretariat for Integration within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1996: to coordinate and direct the tasks related to the integration issues. • The country questionnaire of the EU in 1996. • On 16th July 1997: the publication of AGENDA 2000 by the European Commission. • The beginning of accession negotiations on 31st March 1998.

  13. VI. The foreign policy of the Horn government (1994-1998) II. • NATO membership as a strategic goal. • The dispatch of Hungarian contingent to the IFOR and SFOR forces stationed in Bosnia. • The Madrid conference of the NATO foreign ministers in the summer of 1998. • Prior to that, in the autumn of 1997: successful referendum was held on Hungary’s NATO membership (75 per cent in favour of NATO membership).

  14. VI. The foreign policy of the Horn government (1994-1998) III. • The handling of minorities issue by the Socialist-Liberal government: to meet the expectations of the Western integrative bodies that Hungary was seeking to join. • The objective of the Horn government: to settle any outstanding issues + conclude agreements. • The agreements with Slovakia on 19th March 1995 and with Romania on 16th September 1996. • Fiasco in relations between Slovakia and Hungary: the case of the Gabčikovo-Nagymaros barrage (submission of the issue to the International Court of Justice in The Hague).

  15. VI. The foreign policy of the Horn government (1994-1998) IV. • Cordial and friendly relations with Croatia and Slovenia (to sign express treaties on the protection of minorities with Croatia and Slovenia). • Serbia: tense relations because of nationalist policies, followed by Slobodan Milosevic + Hungary’s participation in sanctions imposed against Serbia. • The establishment of new diplomatic missions in the region(Sarajevo and Cluj). • The summoning of the first Hungarian-Hungarian conference in 1996 by the Horn government.

  16. VII. The foreign policy of the Orbán government (1998-2002) I. • The Orbán government: continuity in the field of foreign policy. • The emphasis on the continuation of the accession negotiations: the first half of 2001 as a real breakthrough, because the first difficult chapters were closed with Hungary. • The Euro-Atlantic integration of Hungary: The signing of accession document in the Spring of 1999 in the United States. • The conflict of Kosovo in 1999: to demonstrate Hungary’s loyalty to NATO + resolve the duality between Atlantic integration- and nation-policy.

  17. VII. The foreign policy of the Orbán government (1998-2002) II. • The preservation of nation-policy objectives of the Antall government’s foreign policies: the „dual values” of the Hungarian foreign policy (parallel representation of the interests of the state + the nation). • The Office Responsible for Hungarians Beyond Borders: it was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Foreign Ministry. • The creation of the „Hungarian Permanent Conference” on 20th February 1999: political debating platform for the representatives of the Hungarian government and Hungarian representatives of national and local parliamentary political parties + organisations in the neighbouring countries.

  18. VII. The foreign policy of the Orbán government (1998-2002) III. • The Status Law: to provide specific benefits by the mother country for persons affiliated to the Hungarian nation, but not a resident in or citizen of Hungary. • The Status Law: it remained on the agenda of contentious issues (refusal by Romania and Slovakia). • The neighbourhood policy of the conservative government: to deepen cooperation among the countries in the region (improvement of relations with Romania and Slovakia + efforts to resuscitate the Visegrád cooperation and strategic partnership with Croatia).

  19. VIII. The foreign policy of the Medgyessy and Gyurcsány governments I. • The foreignpolicyofthegovernment of Medgyessy: similarities to the cabinet of Gyula Horn. • To complete the process of European integration. • During the Danish Presidency in the second half of 2002: the closing of cultural and audiovisual policy + regional policy chapters by Hungary. • The Brussels European Council’s Summit in October of 2002: to conclude the accession negotiations with 10 countries, including Hungary at the Copenhagen Summit + sign the Treaty of Accession in April 2003.

  20. VIII. The foreign policy of the Medgyessy and Gyurcsány governments II. • The Copenhagen European Council’s Summit of 12-13 December 2002: to forge a compromise + agreement on the final package of the accession negotiations with the ten countries. • The most important results of the Copenhagen Summit for Hungary: additional support of € 56 million under the cash flow facility in 2005 and 2006 + € 148 million to improve border security under the Schengen facility and in the field of free movement of capital chapter to invoke the safeguard clause. • The sign of the Treaty of Accession in Athens on 16th April 2003.

  21. VIII. The foreign policy of the Medgyessy and Gyurcsány governments III. • The ratification process of the Treaty of Accession by 25 signatory states. • In Hungary referendum was held on EU membership (12 April 2003): overwhelming support of Hungary’s EU membership. • The first eastern enlargement of the EU took place on 1st May 2004 with the accession of ten countries, including Hungary. • The visit of the Foreign Minister in Washington in the summer of 2002.

  22. VIII. The foreign policy of the Medgyessy and Gyurcsány governments IV. • The sign of the „letter of eight” by the Hungarian Prime Minister: disagreement between the US and the EU on the strategy to follow in Iraq (Hungary’s commitment to the side of the solution preferred by the USA). • Hungary: to give technical support for the US troops + dispatch a small technical division to Iraq. • Neighbourhood policy: to tailor the Status Law according to conditions prescribed by the EU + other neighbouring countries (the elimination of ethnic criteria as regards the entitlement to benefits).

  23. VIII. The foreign policy of the Medgyessy and Gyurcsány governments V. • The speech of Medgyessy at the signing of the Accession Treaty in Athens on 16th April 2003: thank to the support of the Hungarians living in the neighbouring countries for Hungary. • The Socialist-Liberal government: the preservation of cultural and national identity of the Hungarian minorities in cooperation with the governments of the neighbouring countries + with the support of the EU. • The Gyurcsány government: support for the EU membership of Bulgaria and Romania + Hungary as a reliable and a loyal partner within NATO.

  24. VIII. The foreign policy of the Medgyessy and Gyurcsány governments VI. • The neighbourhood policy of the Gyurcsány government: the refusal of dual citizenship for ethnic Hungarians. • On 5th December 2004: unsuccessful referendum on the dual citizenship (low turnout). • The prospect of dual citizenship: opposition by the neighbouring countries. • The unsuccessful referendum on dual citizenship: unresolved problems from the past could surface having the potential of disturbing European integration.

  25. IX. New challenges in the Hungarian foreign policy • By the accession of Hungary to the EU: the loss of validity of the three priorities related to foreign policy. • The radical change of the global security situation: emergence of new threats. • The change of the ‚classic’ national interest perception. • The factors that affect Hungary’s national interests: sovereignty, territorial integrity, constitutional order, the stability of the country, the preservation of international peace and security, etc.

  26. X. Foreign policy of Hungary in the EU I. • European integration: an instrument for nation-state survival (continuous political coordination of national and community interests). • Membership in the EU: it requires active participation in areas less cultivated during the post-1990 period + modification of the three-fold target structure of the triad in the field of foreign policy. • Interaction between politics and economy remained an important factor. • New challenges for the Hungarian foreign policy: the division of the US and the EU + the emergence of unstable regions (Belarus, Ukraine, the East Balkans etc.).

  27. X. Foreign policy of Hungary in the EU II. • The relations between Core-Europe and „slower speed Europe”. Hungarian diplomacy: to maintain institutional and judicial unity of integration. • To incorporate the rights of national and ethnic minorities in EU institutions (the enhancement of their protection at EU-level). • To support the „community method” by the Hungarian diplomacy. • Main problems: lack of EU support for positive discrimination based on ethnicity + refusal to grant collective rights to minorities by some countries.

  28. X. Foreign policy of Hungary in the EU III. • To encounter the question pertaining to relations between the Eastern and the Mediterranean. • For Hungary: the question of the „new neighbourhood” policy was meant to assume a new foreign policy (to assume a „strategic partnership” role vis-à-vis potential neighbouringaccession countries). • To assume active neighbourhood- and crisis prevention policies by the Hungarian diplomacy. • The change of sub-regional cooperation policies: the emergence of new of sub-regional forms in the ECE region.

  29. XI. References Csaba Békés (2016): Détente and the Soviet Bloc. From Promoter to Victim, 1975-1991. pp. 177-179. In. Rasmus Mariager, Helle Porsdam, Poul Villaume (eds.): The ‘Long 1970s’. Human Rights, East – West Détente, and Transnational Relations, Routledge, pp. 165-183. European Parliament. Directorate-General for Research. Directorate. Directorate A. Division for International and Constitutional Affairs. Note on the political and economic situation in Hungary and its relations with the European Union in the framework of accession. Brussels, 28 January 2003. Ignác Romsics (1999): Hungary in the twentieth century. Corvina – Osiris, pp. 457-462.

  30. XI. References Imre Varga: Development of the Hungarian Foreign Policy in the Last Ten Years. A comparison of the foreign policy programs of the post-transition Hungarian governments. In. National Security and the Future 2 (1) 2000., pp. 117- 131. János Vándor: The Foreign Policy of Hungary. Autumn 2017. PowerPoint Presentation. László J. Kiss: The Restatement of Hungarian Foreign Policy – from Kádárism to EU Membership. In. Foreign Policy Review, 2004. Vol. 2. No. 1., pp. 33-86.

  31. XI. References Máté Szabó: Hungary between the last elections and the new government. In. Annales. 2005. Vol. 8., pp. 157-180. Pál Dunay: Hungarian foreign policy in the era of transition, 1990-2004. In. Foreign Policy Review, 2004. Vol. 2. No. 1., pp. 196-216. Weinstein, Michael A.: Hungary’s Referendum on Dual citizenship: A small Victory for Europeanism. In.https://kisebbsegkutato.tk.mta.hu/kettosallampolgarsa g/publicisztika/pub_222.html Downloaded on 4 January 2019. Zoltán Horváth (2011): Handbook on the European Union. Fourth edition in English. Chapter 26. Enlargement policy, pp. 593-640.

  32. Thank you for your attention!

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