Coronavirus – Closer Hungary-Austria ties on horizon, says Hungarian FM

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Hungary and Austria will develop an even closer cooperation to ease ramifications of the coronavirus epidemic and help revive the economy, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Tuesday.

After a teleconference with Alexander Schallenberg, his Austrian counterpart, Szijjártó said on Facebook that

the two countries would open a new border crossing on Wednesday, between Fertőrákos, in Hungary, and St. Margarethen in Burgenland (Szentmargitbánya).

He noted that commuters to work needed alternative routes.

The minister said that the bilateral agreement with Austria, concerning freight traffic, was working well, and noted the importance of ensuring smooth retail supplies.

Parties at the talks discussed major challenges for the European Union, including migration, Szijjártó said, adding that the two governments’ positions were “very similar”, adding that

“illegal migration must be stemmed rather than managed”.

He insisted that the Hungarian government was helping countries in the western Balkans in their fight against the epidemic so that they can tackle a possible wave of migration in the future.