On this page

1. Legal/policy framework for the functioning and development of youth organisations

2. Public financial support

3. Initiatives to increase the diversity of participants

Legal/policy framework for the functioning and development of youth organisations

According to the Fundamental Law of Hungary,

'everyone shall have the right to establish and join organisations […] Trade unions and other interest representation organisations may be formed and may operate freely based on the right to association.'

Besides that, the new Civil Code (Polgári Törvénykönyv) and the Law on Civic Society Association (Civil törvény) define how NGOs can be founded and operated. In Hungary, these regulations are also relevant for youth NGOs. Some youth organisations are public bodies [for example, the Association of Hungarian PhD and DLA Candidates (Doktoranduszok Országos Szövetsége)], but the majority of them are associations [for example, the National Youth Council (Nemzeti Ifjúsági Tanács)].

The Deputy State Secretariat for Civil and Social Relationships operates under the Prime Minister's Office (Miniszterelnökség). Its aims, among others, are to support the effective operation of NGOs and to operate an information and administration portal [Civil Information Portal (Civil Információs Portál)], and it pursues that the state funds would be accessible for the NGOs in a favourable way.

The main principle is that youth should have interest groups for advocacy. It is important that throughout these organisations, the Government have negotiation partners who can represent these groups of society. There are interest groups according to different fields as well. For example:

• young entrepreneurs – National Association of Young Entrepreneurs (in Hungarian: FIVOSZ),
• young farmers – Hungarian Farmers' Association [Fiatal Gazdák Magyarországi Szövetsége (AGRYA)]
• Association of Hungarian PhD and DLA Candidates (Doktoranduszok Országos Szövetsége, DOSZ).

Also, there is an organisation which represents all young people: the National Youth Council (Nemzeti Ifjúsági Tanács, NIT). (For more information, see 5.3 Youth representation bodies)

There is no particular information on the principles and goals of legal or policy framework for the functioning and development of youth organisations.

Public financial support

The source of funding can be legal or state subsidies, tender applications or individual grants. The government provides an individual grant for policy support on the basis of application. Grants can be approved with applications through the state funds listed below.

National Cooperation Fund

Specific rules that apply to state support are specified in the Act CLXXV of 2011 (Civil törvény). The operation of NGOs and their specific programmes and activities (for example, advocacy), and their publications are supported by the state through the National Cooperation Fund (Nemzeti Együttműködési Alap, NEA), which uses the state budget for its tenders [Act CLXXV of 2011 (Civil törvény)]. The operational fund can only be obtained through NEA, while other grants support professional activities.

From 1 January 2019 the NEA is operated by Bethlen Gábor Fund Ltd (Bethlen Gábor Alapkezelő Zrt.).

Children and Youth Fund

The Ministry of Culture and Innovation (Kulturális és Innovációs Minisztérium) supports children's and young people's activities, programmes, initiatives through the Children and Youth Fund (Gyermek és Ifjúsági Alap, GYIA), which has a state budget chapter (Gyermek és Ifjúsági Alapprogram) that finances

• the programmes of youth NGOs on participation,
• events simulating the functioning of the democratic institutions and the roles of decision-makers within these institutions, cooperation.

Currently GYIA belongs to the National Cultural Grant Management Office (Nemzeti Kulturális Támogatáskezelő) which is one of the background institutions of the government.

National Talent Programme

The aim of the National Talent Programme (Nemzeti Tehetség Program) is to support talent development, provide long-term support to talented youth, and promote outstanding talent managed by organisations, communities and programmes in Hungary and beyond. In the new government, formed in 2022, the Department of Talents, under the Deputy State Secretariat for Young People in the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, is responsible for the implementation of this programme. (For more information, see 4.4 Inclusive programmes for young people.)

Bethlen Gabor Fund

The Bethlen Gabor Fund (Bethlen Gábor Alap) is an earmarked state fund. It aims to support Hungarians living beyond the borders of their motherland and to strengthen the connection between motherland and homeland. Financial grants can be won through a call for applications or through individual grant applications.

Applicants can be individuals (Hungarian youth outside their homeland), municipalities and other institutions, and local governments and they provide financial support in the topics of:

• education,
• preservation and development of Hungarian culture and science,
• and actions related to European Union activities. (For more information on the Fund, see 10.3 Support to youth work.)

Local governments

In Hungary, it is the responsibility of local governments to support youth. [Act CLXXXIX of 2011 (2011. évi CLXXXIX. törvény Magyarország helyi önkormányzatairól)] This means, that on the local level, the local governments support youth organisations, although the form of this support is not defined.

The type of activities which are supported by means of public finance mentioned above:

• camps,
• mentor training,
• training,
• meetings,
• advocacy,
• research,
• information and communication activities,
• publications.

Initiatives to increase the diversity of participants

In Hungary, there are no programmes on this topic accessible to a wide range of young people and funded by the Hungarian state. This issue is not part of the main goals or rhetorical line of the Hungarian Government.

The National Youth Council (Nemzeti Ifjúsági Tanács) organised a Roma Youth Professional Workshop (Roma Ifjúsági Szakmai Műhely) in 2024 where professionals and organisation representatives could discuss the Hungarian implementation of the Recommendation of the European Council on Roma Youth Participation. The recommendation aims to enhance the inclusion of Roma youth in decision-making processes and various social issues. Their needs and interest should be involved in each related policies and programmes.