Hungary Refuses to Join EU Startup Group Over Diversity and Inclusion Aim

Hungary won’t become a member of an EU startup alliance anytime soon since Viktor Orbán’s right-wing government in Budapest disagrees with the group’s inclusion and diversity efforts.

Up until now, 15 EU countries have joined the European Startup Nations Alliance (ESNA), which was created in 2021 aiming to improve and harmonize startup policy across the bloc.

{snip}

The inclusion and diversity clause says that countries have “to deploy actions to support diversity and inclusion in their startup policies,” with suggestions such as giving incentives to hiring based on diversity of ethnicity, gender, religion, age and sexual orientation.

{snip}

Hungary’s refusal could create problems for the governance of the startup group.

The group’s board consists largely of countries that just held, or are about to hold the rotating Council presidency of the EU. Hungary is scheduled to take over the presidency in July 2024. {snip}