Both Hungary and Denmark strive to stabilise results achieved in European Union

Deputy State Secretary Balázs Molnár had talks with Jens Kisling, Under Secretary for Europe of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Carsten Gronbech-Jensen, Chief European Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister of Denmark in Copenhagen on 23 November. At the meeting the parties reviewed the future of the EU, migration, the future of the Schengen Area, Brexit, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the Western Balkans enlargement of the EU and social issues.

p, and they welcomed the strengthening of the leading role of Donald Tusk in the debate on the future of the EU. They stressed that the EU must respond to the actual needs of citizens, and must preserve the achievements of the past 60 years. The parties agreed on the importance of security and the protection of the external borders, but they had different views on the border controls implemented within the Schengen Area. While Hungary rejects them,

Denmark looks upon border controls as a means of flexibility which are essential in order for them not to have to leave the borderless area.

In the context of Brexit, the parties regard the unity of the EU27, citizens’ rights and financial issues as the most important priorities. Jens Kisling voiced his disappointment in connection with the decision adopted with respect to the headquarters of the European Medicines Agency (EMA); at the same time, he believes it is an important achievement that Denmark managed to compile a strong Danish bid.

Regarding the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), Mr. Molnár outlined the Hungarian and Visegrád arguments to the effect that the goals of cohesion policy which seek to even out the differences in advancement within the EU as laid down in the Treaties continue to remain relevant.

Hungary takes the view that it is unacceptable that the responses to the latest legitimate challenges should be financed solely at the expense of conventional policies.

Denmark as a net contributor country views budgetary issues on the basis of different criteria. They would preserve the basic principle of a contribution amounting to 1 per cent of GNI also beyond Brexit, meaning that they expect to see a net reduction in the grand total as the burdens of the Member States cannot increase excessively. Due to the percentages of the Common Agricultural Policy and cohesion, they believe that the reduction of these chapters is effectively inevitable.

The parties agreed on the significance of the fundamental principle of work force mobility

and highlighted the protection of legitimate workers and businesses, while they condemned abuses. Mr. Molnár drew attention to the interests of the Hungarian and Visegrád road haulage sector in connection with the talks of the Mobility Package.

Source: kormany.hu – press release