UJHELYI.EU

dr. ISTVÁN UJHELYI
president of Capital European Affairs
former Ambassador to the EU institutions (UN Tourism)
former member of the European Parliament
founder of the Community of Chance

Date and place of birth:
28 February 1975, Berettyóújfalu, Hungary

Marital status:
married, father of six children.

Education:
1993–2002 József Attila University, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, Szeged. Law degree
1989-1993 Tóth Árpád High School Debrecen, High School diploma

Scholarships:
a political study visit to London on a grant from the Council of Europe and to Washington on a US grant (International Visitor Leadership Program)

Political Career:

2024-2026: Ambassador to the EU institutions (UN Tourism)

2014-2024: Member of the European Parliament (S&D Group / TRAN and ENVI Committees)

2014-2023: Nominated four times for MEP of the Year (won in 2017 and 2022)

2010-2014: Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Member of Parliament

21 April 2009 – 29 May 2010: State secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office

2 January 2009 – 29 May 2010: President of the National Tourism Committee

1 July 2006 – May 2008: State secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development

November 2004 – June 2006: Government commissioner

2002-2010: Member of Parliament for the 1st constituency of Szeged

October 2002 – November 2004: Senior Adviser to the Prime Minister

1996-2002: Member of the Assembly of the Municipality of Szeged

Political/professional engagement:

– Former First Vice-Chair of European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN), Co-Chair of Tourism Task Force within the Committee
– Former Member of European Parliament Subcommittee on Public Health (SANT)
– Former Ambassador to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO / now UN Tourism)
– Initiator of European Health Union, founder and signatory of the European Health Union Manifesto (‘champion’ member)
– Founder of the European Health Union Network
– Vice-President of Rail Forum Europe
– Honorary Ambassador / Advisor to Shenzhen Chamber of Commerce and Industry
– Member of the Board of Mediterranean Tourism Foundation (Senator)
– Founding President of think-tank Capital European Affairs
– Chairman of the Board of Bella Vista Institute of Higher Education Switzerland (BVIS) (from 2021)
– Initiator and mentor of free InterRail pass programme (DiscoverEU)
– Initiator of EU-China Tourism Year
– Initiator of European Capital of Tourism programme
– Founding chairman of Brussels-based NGO „One Belt One Road Culture & Tourism Development Committee”
– Honorary Ambassador of Circus Arts (2018 – invited by Fédération Mondiale du Cirque / World Circus Federation of Monaco)
– Founder and former President of Confucius Institute of the University of Szeged
– Former social chairman of Pick Szeged men’s handball team

Public activity:

2022- : Founder and president of the Community of Chance (Esély Közösség)
1993-2022: Member of the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP)
2004-2010, 2014-2017: Vice-President of MSZP
2004-2005: Vice-President of IUSY (Socialist Youth Internationale)
2003-2023: Member of the Board of Trustees of the Mihály Táncsics Foundation (MSZP)
2002-2004: President of Young Left – Young Socialists united
2000-2010: Member of the National Board of the MSZP
1999-2002: President of the Hungarian Children and Youth Council
1999-2002: National Vice-President of the Young Left
1995-1999: Vice-President of the Left-wing Youth Association

Language skills: English

Who I am