Summit of EU heads of state and government – Hungarian perspective

Maastricht, October 20 (MTI) – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Maastricht on Thursday, prior to attending a summit of the European People’s Party (EPP), his press chief said. Ukraine should be given the possibility of visa-free travel, Orbán said.

Orbán holds talks with Ukrainian president

The two sides agreed that the EU could best help Ukraine in the current situation by granting it a visa waiver, Bertalan Havasi told MTI.

Orbán reassured his partner that he will continue to strongly advocate in all European forums that the visa requirement for Ukrainian citizens should be lifted.

The two sides expressed hope that a concrete action plan on boosting bilateral economic relations could be signed during Poroshenko’s visit to Hungary in November.

Orbán was accompanied by cabinet office chief Antal Rogán.

Prior to the meeting with the Ukrainian president, Orbán held talks with EPP President Joseph Daul.

The prime minister will attend the EPP summit in Maastricht and working sessions of the European Council in Brussels.

Orban: Ukraine should be given possibility of visa-free travel

Orbán said all legal obstacles have been removed, yet the EU has not brought about a political decision.

“I will initiate that we bring about the decision that all of Ukraine’s citizens should be able to enter the territory of the European Union freely without a visa,” he said.

In response to a journalist’s question concerning the settlement of migrants, Orbán said the European Commission’s proposal regarding binding quotas did not have a chance of getting a consensus, since Hungary would never ever support it.

“They should withdraw it and put forward a new proposal and start negotiations based on new foundations,” Orbán said.

Photo: Prime Misiter Office of Hungary

Source: MTI