From One Union to Another Union

The Hungarian public administration development path can be outlined in four stages. The first stage, “democratization,” spans from 1990 until 1998, marked by the start of EU accession negotiations. The second stage, “Europeanization,” covers the period from 1998 to 2004, characterized by preparations for EU membership, which Hungary achieved in 2004 alongside nine other countries. The third stage, “quest for efficiency,” extends from 2004 to 2010, during which Hungary struggled with state budget insolvency, leading to a standby loan from the International Monetary Fund. The final stage, “continual crisis management,” begins in 2010 and includes the financial and economic crisis, the migrant crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine.