Introducing the Public Relations Office

The Foreign Ministry, as the ministry managing the country’s foreign relations, actively endeavours to shape direct relations with members of society - with citizens just as much as with civil organisations. Internal and external affairs are often blurred together and external factors have an ever greater impact on our everyday lives -heightened by our membership of the European Union. This necessitates moulding the development of international processes. One of the keys for society’s acceptance of foreign policy is the transparency of the Foreign Ministry’s activities and the ministry’s briefing capability, as well as its openness to civil initiatives and suggestions. Representing and defending national interests effectively often depends on what kind of social basis there is for foreign policy as well as society’s acceptance and general support.

Just as in the case of other state institutions, the need to strengthen civil relations does not simply turn on how various conceptions and strategies are worded but on adhering to legal regulations, too (e.g. recording expression of opinion, the 2005 law on the freedom of electronic information). All these trends led the Foreign Ministry to put into effect organisational changes in support of social dialogue. In spring 2005, it set up the Foreign Ministry Public Relations Office which is a part of the Communications and Public Relations Department.

The Office’s basic remit is to co-ordinate the development of relations between the ministry and the civil sphere as well as strategic planning in respect of civil and public relations-related work. Further, it handles the citizens’ enquiries and supports the international undertakings of civil society. The Office, in co-operation with representatives of the ministry and civil groups, also does its share with respect to the ministry’s briefing tasks, it organises presentations and meetings - e.g. open days and roundtables - as well as seeing to the regular online civil-sector newsletter. It maintains a constant channel for relations between the ministry and citizens/NGOs via the government’s public relations website ( www.magyarorszag.hu ), which involves obtaining the relevant expert reaction to virtually every incoming query. It contributes to the consideration and publication of tenders with a foreign policy bent and dialogue with civil groups, as well as making visible the whole of foreign activity in a readily comprehensible form.

Information related to public relations can be reached on the ministry’s external website ( www.kulugyminiszterium.hu ). Please write to the following email address kozkapcsolatok@kum.hu in connection with any questions or enquiries.