Hungarian foreign minister holds talks with Estonian counterpart

Foreign ministers Péter Szijjártó of Hungary and Sven Mikser of Estonia discussed alliance and defence issues in Budapest on Wednesday, the foreign ministry told MTI.

Estonia, holding the European Union‘s rotating presidency, and Hungary have adopted identical positions on a number of issues in the debates over the EU’s future. Both countries consider it a priority to reinforce the Schengen zone, defend the EU’s borders and intensify cooperation between the EU and NATO, the ministry said in a statement.

They agree that, in the interest of restoring the EU’s competitiveness, taxation and social-welfare policies should remain national competencies and digital projects should be given a boost, it said.

The ministers also discussed Hungary’s contribution to security in the Baltic region. In the framework of Visegrad cooperation, 130 Hungarian soldiers are being stationed in Estonia. In 2019, Hungarian fighter planes will once again take part in defending the Baltic air space, the ministry said.

Further, Hungary supports Estonia’s quest to serve as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2020-2021, it said.

On yesterday Szijjártó visited Romania. Hungarian FM and his Romanian negotiating partner came to an agreement on the permanent opening of two temporary border crossing stations that are currently operating with limited opening hours, and on the opening of a Hungarian Cultural Institute in Kolozsvár (Cluj-Napoca), in Bucharest on Wednesday.

Photo: MTI

Source: MTI