is a jurist, former Member of the European Parliament, and former ambassador of UN Tourism, responsible for the cooperation with the EU institutions. Over the past decade, he served as vice-chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) as part of the social-democratic group and as an elected representative of Hungary.
He was also a member of the European Parliament’s committee on environment and health issues (ENVI) and one of the initiators of the comprehensive European Health Union program. Over the past decade, István Ujhelyi was twice named MEP of the Year, primarily in categories related to tourism. Previously, he was a member and deputy-speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly for several years, and held decision-making positions in various governments, including as Secretary of State for regional development and the Prime Minister’s Office. He also chaired the National Tourism Committee in Hungary.
Currently, István Ujhelyi is a member of the APCO International Advisory Council and a global advisor supporting the HiSeas International Tourism Group. He is also a board member of the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation; European Chief Advisor to the Shenzhen Chamber of Commerce, member of the High Advisory Council of the Angola-Hungary Chamber of Commerce, and serving as its Special Representative in Hungary.
Mr. Ujhelyi is the founder-president of Capital European Affairs (CEA), which is a Brussels-based consultancy and think-tank and also the founding chairman of the ‘OBOR’ EU-China ‘One Belt, One Road’ Foundation for Culture, Tourism, Education and Economic Development; which fosters Chinese-European cooperation. He initiated the „European Capital of Smart Tourism” program and supported the DiscoverEU initiative as a mentor, providing free train passes to eighteen-year-olds across Europe.
Additionally, Ujhelyi was named honorary ambassador for circus arts by the Monaco-based World Circus Federation, led by Princess Stéphanie of Monaco.
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