Vienna has its first green hydrogen plant
The facility will be able to power 60 buses daily
It could see the end of low-cost air travel to Hungary, as many airlines are still struggling to recover their pre-pandemic revenue levels
At the end of May, Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban introduced a set of new taxes directed toward banks, insurance companies, energy and trading firms, telecommunications companies and airlines. Under the new regulations for 2022 and 2023, these companies would be obliged to pay their excess profits back to the state.
With that extra funding, the Hungarian government would then set up a ‘utility cut protection fund’ helping to keep bills for consumers low. The money would also go towards some development programmes for the military.
According to a company statement, however, Ryanair called on the Hungarian PM to scrap the tax for airlines, as they described it would hurt Hungary as a tourism destination. The Irish low-cost airline also stated that airlines still have not recovered their revenue to pre-pandemic levels, so the tax would slow down that recovery even further.
On Thursday, the airline decided to pass the tax on customers, even including people who have already booked their flights before the introduction of the tax. According to a Telex report, Ryanair has stated that people would get a full refund if they decide that they want to claim it.
The new plan would see Hungary asking for a tax of 10 to 25 euros per passenger, departing from the country, starting from July. Considering low-cost airlines sometimes offer tickets as low as 15 euros per direction, this tax would make budget trips to the country economically unsustainable.
The statement from Ryanair calls the tax unjustified, ill-advised and ill-timed. It further reads that comparing airlines, which have struggled over the pandemic to the hugely profitable oil and energy industry would make Hungary unattractive for both airlines and tourists.
This opinion was seconded by Ryanair’s competitor, Hungarian-based WizzAir, in a statement made last month, as they believe it would take years for the industry to recover from COVID-19 – and the tax would only hamper that recovery.
Victor Orban was re-elected in April in a landslide victory, which many analysts attribute to a wave of populist measures that were aimed at keeping prices low for consumers amid rising inflation.
The ruling Fidesz party had even resorted to tricks like discrediting the opposition through propaganda directly sent to voters. They did this by co-opting e-mail addresses, which citizens had submitted to receive Covid vaccine information.
Back in February, the Hungarian government also introduced price caps on food and fuel for cars, providing the cheapest prices at the gas station in the EU.
The new tax, however, would allow Hungary to be even more generous with subsidising consumer prices, as the bill should provide authorities with a sum estimated around 200 billion euros.
According to a report by Hungary Today, Victor Orban’s government was committed to protecting jobs, families and retirees in a protracted war situation. However, as prices and interest rates rise certain institutions end up profiting from the war. As the PM put it, those who profit from the war should pay to keep prices low for consumers and ensure Hungary’s defence.
At the same time, Reuters also claimed that the move hit Budapest stocks and rattled investors. One of Central Europe's largest independent lenders, OTP Bank, reportedly said the new tax would divert 78.3 billion forints this year alone, or the rough equivalent of 200 million euros, from its revenue.
Modern traffic lights do more than regulate the flow of vehicles at crossroads, they also collect enormous amounts of data
The blaze has been dubbed the Danish capital’s own “Notre Dame” tragedy
Two million euros will go towards the effort that will try to refresh its original splendour
Modern traffic lights do more than regulate the flow of vehicles at crossroads, they also collect enormous amounts of data
The German Aerospace Center in Cologne is looking for volunteers for its next bed rest study
The project aims to urge pedestrians to live even healthier lives
The intervention has affected the mountainous districts of the Catalan capital
Two million euros will go towards the effort that will try to refresh its original splendour
There’s even a dedicated route of these objects in the southern Spanish region
The project aims to urge pedestrians to live even healthier lives
The blaze has been dubbed the Danish capital’s own “Notre Dame” tragedy
There’s even a dedicated route of these objects in the southern Spanish region
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team