European sustainable development rural actor database


Coordinate
Language:
Hungarian

Currency:
Forint
Area:
93,029.00

Population:
10.10

Density:
108.60

GIP:
89

GIP per cap.:
8,803.00

Political regime:
Republic

Head of State:
M. Laszlo Solyom (Independent)
Head of governement:
M. Ferenc Gyurcsany (Socialist Party – MSZP)
Eutropean Union Membership:
2004
National anthem:
Isten áldd meg a magyart (God bless the Hungarians)

Administrative organization

Form of State: unitary State.
National legislative responsibilities cover all areas. Parliament determines the legal status, duties and functions, operating guarantees, means of funding and basic economic management rules of territorial authorities, together with the legal status of their representatives, the rules governing their election and their rights and duties.
Interesting ministries:

  • Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Minister: M. Jozsef Graf.
  • Ministry of Local Authorities and Regional Development. Minister: Mrs Monika Lamperth.
  • Ministry of the Environment and Water. Minister: M. Miklos Persanyi.

Administrative units

Name

Number

Competences

NUTS 1

Statisztikai nagyrégiók

3

NUTS 2

Tervezési-statisztikai régi (regions)

7

Regional development policies

Administration of Community Funds

NUTS 3

Megyék (provinces or counties) + Budapest

20

Mandatory tasks:

- Spatial planning

- Environmental issues

- Establishment of spatial information systems

- Promotion of tourism

Other tasks can be transferred to counties

LAU 1

Statisztikai kistérségek

168

LAU 2

Települések (communes)

3145

Public registry office

Public order

Land registry

Local development

Water and sewage

Refuse collection

Contact with suppliers

Management of public areas

Cemeteries

Fire-fighting and prevention

Housing

Municipal infrastructure

Municipal transport (road and river)

Spatial planning

Education (kindergartens and nursery, primary and secondary level schools)

Health (primary health centres)

Sport

Culture

Protection of the rights of national and ethnic minorities

Urban Transport

Total public expenditure: € 44.3 billions = 49.9% GDP.
Sub-national public expenditure: € 11.4 billions = 12.8% GDP = 25.7% total public expenditure.

Rural life

Utilized agricultural area: 63% total area, i.e. about 58,608 km2.
Rural population: 33.7% total population.
Labour force in agriculture: 521,000 Annual Work Units (AWU).
Unemployment rate by degree of urbanisation:

  • Densely populated areas: 5.5%
  • Intermediate areas: 7.2%
  • Thinly populated areas: 8.7%

Employment rate by degree of urbanisation:

  • Densely populated areas: 62.9%
  • Intermediate areas: 56.9%
  • Thinly populated areas: 52.5%

Youth unemployment ratio by degree of urbanisation:

  • Densely populated areas: 4.0%
  • Intermediate areas: 5.1%
  • Thinly populated areas: 6.1%
  • Total: 5.2%

Share of organic area in total utilised agricultural area: 2%.

Sustainability

Hungary does not yet have a National Strategy for Sustainable Development. The first draft was however published in October 2005. Aiming at a balanced territorial development, it focuses on the following themes:

  • Long term competitivity
  • Employment
  • Education
  • Health
  • Strengthening cohesion
  • Improved physical access
  • Improved virtual access
  • Protection and sustainable use of natural resources and the environment

In 2005, consultations were held, and other issues were raised by stakeholders to be included in the final document:

  • Basic values, quality of life
  • Learning & systems thinking
  • Labour market, employment
  • Public administration reform
  • Regional & rural development
  • Equality
  • Family, population, intergenerational issues
  • Sustainable communities
  • International cooperation
  • Infrastructure
  • Innovation & comparative advantages
  • Public participation
  • Sustainable consumption & production
  • Health
  • Liveable environment

While waiting for the Parliament to adopt and publish the SDS, Hungary is currently implementing the National Environmental Programme 2003-2010, for which the Ministry of the Environment is responsible.
Environmental protection expenditure in the public sector: 0.7% of GDP, i.e. 45 € per capita.
Government expenditure on environment protection, in % of GDP: 0.8%.
Government expenditure on environment protection, in % of total government expenditure: unavailable data.
Area protected under the Habitats Directive as a percentage of total area: 15%.