Orban vows to expand economic sovereignty
Hungary’s political sovereignty needs to be protected and its economic sovereignty further expanded in a geopolitically sensitive situation in Europe where the economy is stagnating, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said. During the period between 2010 and 2014, the constitutional and financial foundations of a policy for national sovereignty have been laid, press chief Bertalan Havasi cited Mr Orban as saying at the year-ending event of the Szell Kalman Foundation. Among the achievements of economic sovereignty that need to be protected, Mr Orban mentioned public utility fee cuts, the energy policy and the job protection scheme which he said are primarily threatened by European tax harmonisation efforts. The prime minister called for further progress in diversifying energy transport routes and launching an unprecedented economic development scheme, which would bring about full employment and simultaneously strengthen economy players. Mr Orban also said that the focus of foreign trade should in part be shifted to the emerging eastern markets.