The Effect of Land Acquisition Policy on Market Trends in Hungary

Abstract

Abstract The aim of the present paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of the major regulations related to the acquisition and ownership of agricultural and forestry lands in Hungary and the effect of these regulations on the trends and changes in trade and ownership structure. The four pivotal points regarding policy–making have been the following: (1) maintaining national ownership of agricultural lands, (2) preventing the registration of ownership when the aim of the transaction is speculation, (3) maintaining the limitation and strict regulations on the possibilities for new acquisitions by corporately owned farms, (4) supporting the acquisition and usage of agricultural lands by privately and family owned farms. In order to achieve these aims, the government of Hungary decided upon a framework for agricultural land acquisition and ownership that integrates a number of rules and limitations already applied by land administration authorities in other EU member countries. However, their systematic and cumulative use raises major questions in the application of the relevant laws in real–life situations; in addition, there are serious concerns about their compatibility with EU principles on legislation and jurisdiction(1). This paper summarises typical situations to illustrate the controversies of the regulations related to agricultural land acquisition and use in Hungary.