High-speed trains will connect Budapest and Bucharest? – UPDATED
PM Viktor Orbán started his visit to Romania in Bucharest this year. Last year, the Romanian prime minister harshly criticised his Hungarian counterpart’s speech at Tusványos.
On Wednesday, Orbán wrote their meeting was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Here is the post:
According to hvg.hu, the Romanian prime minister drew Orbán’s attention to the importance of supporting Ukraine. Furthermore, Ciolacu thanked Orbán for supporting Romania’s Schengen accession. Several Western countries, including Austria do not back the idea. If it were unsuccessful this year, the 2024 Hungarian EU presidency could mark a positive milestone in the project.
Orbán and Ciolacu discussed establishing a high-speed train system between Budapest and Bucharest. The speed limit would be 160 km/h instead of the general 200 km/h, but still, it could help Romanians and Hungarians and develop economic ties between the two countries significantly. However, there is no money for the project. According to Maszol, a Hungarian newspaper in Romania, the railway line would cost more than EUR 7 billion. Meanwhile, bridges, tunnels and the operation system would add billions to that sum. Therefore, the Budapest-Bucharest fast train is only the fantasy of the two leaders.
UPDATE: Orbán is thankful
Accorrding to MTI, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Saturday sent a letter to Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, thanking him for recent talks in Bucharest and for ensuring the “smooth operation” of the Balvanyos Summer University in Baile Tusnad, in central Romania, the PM’s press chief said.
“I would like to thank you for meeting me in Bucharest. I thank you and the Romanian authorities for ensuring the security of the summer university in Baile Tusnad, and that my speech could proceed peacefully and smoothly today,” Orbán said in the letter. He also pledged support and cooperation in the issues discussed during the Bucharest meeting, Bertalan Havasi said.
Orbán met ethnic Hungarian leaders at Bálványos Summer University
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his deputy Zsolt Semjen held talks at a working lunch with ethnic Hungarian leaders during the 32nd Bálványos Summer University at Baile Tusnad (Tusnádfürdő), in central Romania, on Friday, Orbán’s press chief said. The talks focusing on current issues of Hungary’s national strategy were attended by Hunor Kelemen, president of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania, Krisztián Forró, head of the Party of the Hungarian Community, István Pásztor, head of the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians, Róbert Jankovics, head of the Democratic Union of Hungarians of Croatia, Orbán Dusan, head of the Hungarian National Community of Municipalities of Prekmurje Council, János Nagy, state secretary heading the Prime Minister’s Office, Zsolt Németh, head of parliament’s foreign affairs committee, MEP and ruling Fidesz deputy leader Kinga Gál, and MEP Andrea Bocskor, Bertalan Havasi said.