Hungarian government: New level of cooperation with Germany possible

In the areas of economic and defence cooperation, Hungary-Germany ties “can reach a new level”, the government spokesman said on Thursday.

Commenting on Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s talks in Berlin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Zoltán Kovács said Germany’s trade turnover with Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia was 1.5 times more than its turnover with France.

Innovation and technology are fruitful areas of cooperation for strengthening economic cooperation, he said.

Most German companies operate in high value-added and forward-looking industries, he noted, adding that Hungary is looking to elevate bilateral ties to a new level.

In the coming weeks and months, Hungarian and German ministries and working groups will pursue new avenues of cooperation, Kovács said.

In connection with defence cooperation, the spokesman noted Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó’s talks in Berlin and the establishment of “extremely” close defence cooperation between the two countries, including between their defence industries. A NATO central European command headquarters is being set up with German support, he noted.

This cooperation also has an impact on military command and technology developments, as well as Hungary’s reform of its military.

Both countries have an interest in creating an independent European defence force, he said, noting that Orban had been among its first proponents.

Photo: MTI

Source: MTI