The chapter highlights two practical initiatives: one from the Italian city of Bologna and the other from Harghita County. A weekly public affairs programme launched in Harghita County, produced in Hungarian, is presented as an example worth following by regions across all 27 Member States of the European Union.
This is a major achievement. Not only for me, but for all of us.
What Some Considered Small at Home Has Been Recognised in Europe
Behind Heti Értékelő, there is no enormous budget, large television crew or expensive studio.
What we do have is consistency and a small, dedicated team committed to preparing and following the issues that matter to our community.
We do not look for subjects that should be avoided. We look for issues that need to be discussed.
My colleagues monitor local developments, collect questions and verify information. I then speak openly about the issues of the day, share my views and listen to questions, criticism, support and differing opinions.
This is democracy.
Dialogue with citizens must not be limited to election campaigns. Public debate must continue after elections, week after week, regardless of political circumstances.
European Recognition as Heti Értékelő Reaches Its 296th Episode
This recognition arrived as we reached another important milestone: the 296th episode of Heti Értékelő.
At the time the European report was prepared, the programme had already delivered more than 276 consecutive episodes. Since then, we have continued without interruption, because the issues affecting our communities do not stop between elections.
The report draws attention to an important challenge facing Harghita County. Following the closure of several television stations, the county was left with very limited independent local media coverage.
This situation is particularly concerning for a rural, mountainous region with a significant minority-language community.
According to the report, Heti Értékelő emerged as a response to this gap, offering a regular platform for discussing local, national and European issues, while involving experts and representatives of the community.
The European message is clear: regular, direct dialogue with citizens demonstrates how local government can become one of the last lines of defence for democracy.
Not a Financial Prize, but Recognition of Years of Work
We have not received a financial prize. What we have gained is something that, to us, is even more important.
Confirmation.
Confirmation that consistent work becomes visible. That public dialogue conducted in Hungarian has a meaningful place in Europe. And that Harghita County can do more than simply follow European examples: it can also offer examples for others to follow.
In Brussels, they recognised the work, not the studio setting. They saw more than a single successful programme. They recognised a relationship with the community that has been maintained over many years.
Some have dismissed Heti Értékelő. Others have questioned whether weekly discussions on social media can genuinely contribute to public life.
I do not wish to argue with anyone. Page 70 speaks for itself.
The programme is not mentioned in passing or hidden in a footnote. It is presented as a distinct example in a chapter dedicated to protecting local democracy.
I have no reproach for those who may have underestimated this work in the past. Instead, I invite them to look at it again.
Perhaps, together, we have developed a model that other communities could also benefit from.
This is not my personal victory. It is a shared achievement.
More Than 170,000 Followers: A Community That Keeps the Dialogue Alive
Nearly 170,000 followers represent far more than a number.
Behind that figure are real people: residents of the Csík, Gyergyó, Udvarhely, Keresztúr and Háromszék regions, people from Mureș County and other communities, those living at home and those working abroad.
Young people and older generations. People who ask questions, express disagreement, offer support, correct mistakes and hold us accountable.
Without all of you, there would be no 296 episodes.
I want to thank everyone who has followed and supported this initiative. Thank you for your questions, your criticism and your willingness to share our discussions with others.
I am also grateful to my colleagues, who prepare the topics week after week and help ensure that the issues affecting our communities do not remain unaddressed.
Brussels has recognised this collective effort.
Democracy Is Not a Campaign Tool. It Is a Public Service.
The responsibility of an elected representative does not end when the ballot boxes close.
We must remain present when difficult questions arise, when there are no easy answers and when different opinions collide.
Regular dialogue is not political decoration. It is not an electoral strategy. It is a form of public service.
And it does not necessarily require large financial resources.
It requires openness, discipline and consistency. Above all, it requires accepting that citizens should not participate in public life only once every four years, but continuously.
This is the principle behind Heti Értékelő.
Public representatives must be willing to explain their decisions, listen to criticism and remain accountable to the communities they serve.
Setting an Example for Europe in Hungarian
Heti Értékelő is produced in Hungarian and rooted in the everyday realities of Harghita County. Yet its approach has proven relevant far beyond our region.
This is an important message for minority communities throughout Europe.
We do not have to give up our language, identity or local characteristics to make a meaningful contribution at European level.
On the contrary, by presenting our own realities authentically, we can help strengthen Europe and enrich its democratic life.
One of the central messages of the European report is that Europe’s future is built locally.
A strong Europe can only be built on strong regions and strong communities.
This recognition demonstrates that even a relatively small community, using its own language and limited resources, can develop initiatives with European significance.
Today, my team, our audience and our wider community can share in this achievement.
Together, We Will Continue
This recognition is not a reason to stop. It is an encouragement to continue.
We will carry Heti Értékelő forward, involve new voices, address difficult subjects and listen to one another even when we disagree.
I encourage everyone to follow the programme, share it and recommend it to others. Send us your questions and suggestions for future topics. Help us bring more people into this ongoing public dialogue.
The 296th episode marks another step in a journey we have built together.
And now, it is not only us who recognise the value of this work. Europe is presenting it as an example worth following.
Together, we move forward. Let us give each other strength, reach even more people and make sure that Harghita County’s voice continues to be heard.