UJHELYI.EU

dr. ISTVÁN UJHELYI
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-: 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:

– First Vice-Chair of European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN), Co-Chair of Tourism Task Force within the Committee
– Member of European Parliament Subcommittee on Public Health (SANT)
– 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