A short-term investment that provides benefits for a whole life

Brussels, 10th February 2012.

Youth unemployment in the EU is becoming more and more worrisome: in certain Member States, almost every second or third young person has no job (in the whole Union, as much as 22,1 per cent of people aged below 25 years are unemployed).

It can be observed in all Member States, however, that unemployment is more frequent amongst young people, justifying the need for common action – Socialist MEP Zita Gurmai stated following a presidential session of the European Socialist Party (ESP). As a result of the discussions on the matter, the participating MEPs approved a report which will form the basis of ESP's upcoming campaign for the fight against youth unemployment, expected to be launched this April. "The proposals laid out in this report will certainly require investments from both EU institutions and national governments; however, the short-term expenses will bring about long-lasting benefits" – summarized Hungarian Socialist MEP Zita Gurmai, who also contributed to the preparation of the report.

MSZP's EP delegation rejects Viktor Orbán's accusations

Strasbourg, February 13th 2012.

"The Orbán government does not equal our nation" – Socialist MEP Csaba Tabajdi said, rejecting accusations by PM Viktor Orbán, adding that Socialist MEPs have always been acting for the benefit of Hungary. Formerly, the Prime Minister stated in the Hungarian Parliament that the country's Socialist MEPs failed to stand up for national interests. Mr. Tabajdi emphasized that the national interests of the country were by no means equal those the issues labeled by the governing Fidesz party as such. The Head of MSZP's delegation to the EP also added that it was the privilege of future generations to judge whether or not they had advanced the national interests, and also to decide on which Hungarian politicians served those interests, and which ones served only the interests of a single political party.

Hungarian TV (Magyar Televízió/MTV) misinforms citizens

Strasbourg, February 14th 2012.

Several unjustified statements were made in MTV's Híradó (The News) on February 11th – Socialist MEP Csaba Tabajdi stated in a letter addressed to Ms. Annamária Szalai, the head of the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (Hungarian abbreviation: NMHH). Several false statements were communicated in the program that are defamatory not only to the European Parliament, but generally to all EU institutions as well. That is why the MEP asked for the NMHH to investigate the matter, to find the people liable for the mistake, and also requested for a correction by MTV. (The following statement was mentioned in the program: "That was certainly not the last time that European politicians were discussing our situation, since on Thursday, they are going to vote for a resolution suggested by left–leaning factions that will condemn Hungary".) Mr. Tabajdi pointed out that the motion for resolution that the Híradó had referred to was accepted by 4 factions of the European Parliament, which should not be described as "left-leaning", given that they did not form a united political platform from an ideological perspective.