HUNGARY: Hungarian farmers mounted roadblocks throughout the country yesterday to protest at government plans to change laws banning land sales to foreigners.
"We are blocking half the roads in some 30 locations in 15 of Hungary's 19 departments," said Mr Istvan Jakab, president of Magosz (Hungarian Farmers' Circle), adding that traffic was being slowed rather than blocked.
"We are protesting the government's decision to sell Hungarian territory to foreigners and to stop supporting family businesses," he said. Between 200 and 300 vehicles, mainly tractors and lorries, took part in the protest.
However, the Agriculture Minister, Mr Imre Nemeth, said the farmers were badly informed. "I can assure you that the government will not make it possible for foreigners to buy Hungarian land in any way, and that family businesses are not in any danger at all. On the contrary, they will be the first to benefit from the new land law," he said.
Hungary's newly elected left-liberal coalition government, which replaced the former right-wing coalition in a general election held last April, has presented parliament with a bill to change laws on arable land sale and ownership, and the management of state-owned land. Parliament has yet to discuss the plans.
Hungary expects to join the European Union in 2004 and is about to enter the most difficult phase of accession talks.
After the election, it was reported the Hungarian government had sent a request to the European Commission to reopen the temporarily closed agricultural component of the accession talks.
Hungary was asking to extend the already agreed seven-year ban on arable land purchase by foreigners to 10 years.
Under the Hungarian proposal, if a significant difference between the Hungarian and foreign price of land still prevailed seven years after accession, Hungary should be allowed to extend the seven-year ban on foreigners buying land by another three years. However, the latest government proposals on this issue have failed to satisfy the Magosz farmers' organisation.
The farmers' protests coincided with a visit to Hungary by the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Mr Günter Verheugen, who told a press conference in Budapest the country was likely to become an EU member before the European Parliament elections in 2004.
"We will conclude membership talks with your country by the end of the year, the political decision [on which countries will join] will be made in 2003 and Hungary will become a full member of the EU before the European elections in 2004," Mr Verheugen said.
The Hungarian Prime Minister, Mr Peter Medgyessy, said last week a referendum on Hungarian membership of the EU could be held in the summer of next year. (Additional reporting - Reuters)