New border crossings and infrastructure projects announced between Hungary and Slovakia

Hungary and Slovakia are opening the second chapter of their agreement on expanding their number of border crossing points, under which they will begin planning the constructin of three new bridges and four new connecting roads, the minister of foreign affairs and trade said in Bratislava (Pozsony) on Monday.

Hungary and Slovakia both have a vested interest in ensuring that Europe’s longest border connects rather than divides the two countries, Péter Szijjártó said, according to a ministry statement.

Whereas in the past the 654km border had only 22 crossing points, under an agreement between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico it now has 40, Szijjártó said.

“This is good for everyone; it’s good for Hungarians, for Slovaks, for those living in southern Slovakia, for the two economies,” Szijjártó said. “Therefore, a decision was made today to open the second chapter agreement on increasing the number of border crossing points,” he added.

Under the agreement, Hungary and Slovakia will begin planning the construction of three new bridges. One bridge to serve freight traffic will be built in the Esztergom area, another to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists will be opened at Dunakiliti, and a third will be build on the river Tisza at Cierna (Agcsernyo), he said.

Meanwhile, Szijjártó said the M2 motorway will be extended northwards and three other roads are planned to be built at Ipolyvece, Zabar and Vamosmikola, respectively. Also, several older border crossing points will be renovated, such as the bridge at Vamosszabadi, he added.

New train services will also be launched with a view to facilitating cross-border rail traffic between Gyor and Bratislava, Szob and Sturovo as well as near Balassagyarmat and Salgotarjan, the minister said.

He also underscored the importance of strengthening Hungary and Slovakia’s shared intention to establish cross-border rescue and health-care cooperation. “Because there could come a situation on either side of the border that the nearest ambulance station or the best-equipped hospital on the other side of the border is much closer then the one in our own country,” he explained.