Slovenia
Minister Palkovics calls for strengthening Hungarian, Slovenian economic ties – UPDATE
The traditional Slovenia Tourism Promotion Event organised by the Slovenian Tourist Board (STO) is taking place today in Budapest. Representatives of the Slovenian and Hungarian tourism industry and numerous Hungarian media representatives were addressed by Marjan Šarec, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, who highlighted the fact that 24% more Hungarian tourists visited Slovenia in 2018 than in the previous year.
Prime Minister Šarec attended the Slovenian business and tourist event as part of his first official meeting with the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, with whom he will also be discussing tourism, in which exceptionally positive cooperation trends have been noted.
In his speech, Prime Minister Šarec emphasised that tourism equals people, hospitality, a friendly smile and a warm handshake,
“Slovenia is a green country with a wealth of natural resources that places it at the forefront of European countries. I am pleased that our neighbours recognise Slovenia as a green destination providing peace, relaxation and an alternative to mass tourism. I am certain that by discovering natural sites, cultural particularities and national features, we enhance cooperation between countries in other fields as well.”
Zdravko Počivalšek, the Minister of Economic Development and Technology, who was also in the delegation addressed the attendees and highlighted that “Slovenia wishes to be recognised globally as a high-quality tourist destination. The promotion of Slovenia’s tourism in foreign markets is thus extremely significant, particularly in the nearby countries.
The number of visits by Hungarian guests to Slovenia has been constantly growing in recent years.
A great role is undoubtedly played in this growth by business and tourism events during which our tourism industry can be showcased. Slovenia has many natural and cultural attractions which we can proudly present to the world and which are of tremendous appeal to foreign visitors. I am pleased that today’s presentation focused on the comprehensive tourism sector dominated by high-quality services and pristine nature. These are the distinct advantages that make Slovenia one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Europe.”
Maja Pak, Managing Director of the STB, presented Slovenia as a country of unique five-star experiences to representatives of Hungarian tourism companies and the media, stating: “The intensive promotional activities of the Slovenian Tourist Board and the tourism industry in recent years are reflected in the high growth rates in the Hungarian market.
Slovenian tourism recorded a 150% increase in arrivals and more than 150% growth in overnight stays by Hungarian tourists compared to 2013. In 2018 we recorded a high number of arrivals – 180,000, in fact – and more than 484,000 overnight stays of Hungarian guests; this trend has continued this year.
Last year, Hungary ranked sixth in terms of the number of overnight stays of foreign tourists visiting Slovenia, with an average length of stay of 2.7 days. During their vacation, Hungarian tourists express interest in culture, cities and cuisine, which, in light of Slovenia as the holder of the European Region of Gastronomy 2021 title, represents further potential for increasing Slovenia’s visibility as a destination for excellent culinary experiences.” Ms Pak also spoke about the profile of Hungarian tourists, who are very important to Slovenia because of their proximity: “Over 10 million Hungarians travel annually, spending more than €2.1 million. They travel four times a year, making one long and three short trips abroad.” At the end, she thanked all participating representatives of Slovenian and Hungarian tourism companies and commended the strengthening of existing business ties.
Slovenia also participates in multilateral initiatives in tourism, part of which are various study trips and seminars carried out within working groups; furthermore, joint promotion and cooperation agreements are underway to develop joint tourism products.
The event was also attended by the Hungarian Minister for Innovation and Technology, Dr László Palkovics, who welcomed the Slovenian delegation to Budapest on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Hungary, and stressed that the Hungarian Government is highly appreciative of the Slovenian Government and Slovenian companies due to the excellent political, economic and cultural relations between the countries. He also described the shared geopolitical situation of Slovenia and Hungary, and highlighted the vital integrating role of both countries.
Today’s event and business meetings are being attended by approximately 70 representatives of Hungarian tour operators and tourist agencies and some 20 representatives of Slovenian tourism businesses.
Slovenia also cooperates with Hungary in the field of tourism via multilateral initiatives during which various study trips and seminars take place within the framework of working groups and discussions are launched concerning promotion and cooperation in the development of joint tourist products.
Slovenia has traditionally been an attractive destination for Hungarian visitors.
Due to its proximity, it is suitable for short breaks and long holidays in all seasons of the year. The Hungarian visitors coming to Slovenia most frequently visit mountains (42%), the coast (26%) and health resorts (9%), but they also visit towns, particularly Ljubljana. In 2018, 24% more Hungarian tourists were recorded, generating 30% more overnight stays. On average, they stayed in Slovenia for 2 to 3 days. According to the number of overnight stays and arrivals, Hungary was placed sixth among all countries whose citizens came to Slovenia in 2018.
Over 150,000 Hungarian visitors were recorded in Slovenian tourist accommodation facilities in the first eight months of 2019, which is 8.4% more than in the same period in 2018. They accounted for more than 405,000 overnight stays, which is 7.2% more than in the same period in 2018 and represents a 4.7% share of all overnight stays.
Orbán, Sarec discuss migration, aid to Africa
As we wrote before, Hungary and Slovenia have submitted a joint bid for European Union funding for linking their gas networks, which would allow Hungary to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Italy, details HERE.
WOW! – Budapest is the 2nd ‘Best Value Destination’ in the world!!! – VIDEO
Europe’s Amazon: Hungary is getting a new UNESCO Biosphere Reserve!
Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Serbia have submitted the final papers of the application process to UNESCO in order to attain a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation for the land around the Mura, Drava and Danube rivers. This was the final step in achieving a joint Biosphere Reserve status for the land occupied by all five countries.
As reported by sokszinuvidek.24.hu, the status is a result of careful planning which began nearly 10 years ago in 2011.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Biosphere Reserve designation, similarly to the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation, is internationally recognised and reputed. The area’s new status should be confirmed and come into effect in June 2020.
The resulting Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve – often dubbed as Europe’s Amazon – will have a length of 700km and 800,000 hectares, which means it will be the continents largest UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It is one of Europe’s most ecologically pristine river systems; the three rivers act as a green corridor for local wildlife, connecting over 1 million hectares of land.
The waters of the Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve’s waters provide a habitat for over 300 waterfowl and numerous fish species, including the Danube salmon.
According to conservationists, the river system provides potable water and flood protection for local villages. It is hoped that the UNESCO designation will increase tourism in the area.
The designation is a testament to successful international cooperation with regards to environmental protection in the area.
This week we wrote guide and itinerary for a daytrip to UNESCO World Heritage site city Pécs. Budapest is also one of the most photographed UNESCO sites
Hungarian minister calls for changes in Europe’s migration policy
The European Union has “fully delivered the continent” to illegal migrants through “practically handing them invitations to Europe”, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó told MTI on the sidelines of a conference in Slovenia’s Bled on Tuesday.
The EU’s migration policy must be changed, Szijjártó said. He added that “the only protection” against illegal migration was provided by the EU-Turkey agreement.
“Should that agreement fail for some reason, hundreds of thousands and millions will flood Europe and the Western Balkans will certainly not be able to stop them,” he insisted.
Stopping illegal migration requires protection of the borders, but “the EU has done nothing to that end south of Hungary. Moreover, it has encouraged hundreds of thousands to violate and cross the borders,” Szijjártó said. Rather than “advocating the permeability of borders” the community should concentrate on border control, he added.
As a further measure, Szijjártó called for accelerating the European integration of countries in the Western Balkans. The sooner Serbia and Montenegro join the EU the more likely it will be that illegal migrants can be stopped before they reach Hungary’s borders, he said. Integrating the Balkans equals shifting the EU’s line of protection further south, the minister added.
In recent months the pressure of migration has again increased in the Western Balkans, Szijjártó warned, adding that as many as 224,000 illegal migrants arrived in Turkey in the first eight months of this year, and some 6,000 arrived in Greece over the past two months.
On the sidelines of the conference, Szijjártó had bilateral talks with his Spanish, Slovenian and Finnish counterparts, as well as with the general secretary of the Mediterranean Union.
Socialists turn to EC over disposal of Croatian, Slovenian sewage sludge in Hungary
The opposition Socialist Party has turned to the European Commission over the matter of Croatia and Slovenia exporting their sewage sludge to Hungary, the party’s MEP said on Wednesday.
István Ujhelyi told a press conference that he has turned to the European commissioners for health asking whether the European Commissioner had any knowledge of the matter or if it was aware that toxic materials had been moved between member states for years. Ujhelyi said his party also wanted to know whether this was in line with EU law and if the EU had allocated any funding for these dealings.
He said the matter was not an internal issue, arguing that it was about a form of trade between member states that “grossly violates” EU law.
Ujhelyi said the government’s decision to prevent the future entry of sewage sludge into Hungary would not be enough to resolve the issue, since the contracts currently in effect still permitted its entry.
Ujhelyi called on Gergely Gulyás, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office, to address the issue.
Lajos Korozs, the (Socialist) head of parliament’s public health committee, told the same press conference that public data released in connection with the matter showed that the permits for the entry of sewage sludge had been issued by the Pest County government office, the authority in charge of environmental protection tasks.
In response to a question,
Korozs accused Gulyás of lying when he said Hungary had not issued any permits for the transport of sewage sludge.
Citing data from Croatia‘s environmental protection and energy ministry, he said Croatia had disposed of over 90,000 tonnes of sewage sludge in Hungary’s depots over the past two years.
Meanwhile data from Slovenia‘s environmental authorities suggest that some 30,000 tonnes of Slovenian sewage sludge were dumped in Hungary last year, he added.
Orbán cabinet: Trieste port to strengthen Hungary
The port and logistics base Hungary is establishing in Trieste will strengthen the country, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó told news portal Origo in an interview on Friday, arguing that Hungarian companies had a fundamental interest in shipping their goods out to sea directly.
The Trieste port will provide reliability and predictability for Hungarian firms, which will guarantee profitability, Szijjártó said.
He said the interest generated by the project among exporters made it “obvious” that it would be profitable, arguing that Hungarian and international companies would pay significant sums of money for storage and shipping at the site.
Szijjártó said
the government had chosen Trieste because it is one of the closest ports to Hungary with enough capacity to meet the needs of Hungarian exporters.
He said the port would be used by medium-large sized freight vessels. The largest ships tend to dock either in Rotterdam or Piraeus where they transfer their goods onto smaller vessels before sending them off to Trieste, he added.
The turnover of goods between Trieste and Hungary has grown four-fold in recent years, with at least one freight train a day running between them, Szijjártó said. Hungary expects this to double once the Hungarian port starts operating, he added.
The minister said
Hungary had also been in talks with Slovenia on setting up a port in Koper.
However, those talks fell through due to opposition from some of the parties in Slovenia’s minority government, he added.
The state of Hungary has already signed the agreement on establishing the port and logistics base in Trieste, Szijjártó said. That deal, which enters into effect in the autumn, will be followed up by another one detailing the effect of upgrades that began in the port in 2016 on the plot purchased by Hungary.
Later, a Hungarian company will be set up to oversee further investments worth 100 million euros to be carried out at the site, he said, adding that the port will have to be completed within three years.
Szijjártó said Hungary is in talks with the other three Visegrad Group countries on bringing them into the project.
Hungary signs agreement on establishing a port in Trieste
The closest seashores to Budapest: your dream vacation less than a 5-hour-drive away!
Hungary has so much to offer. However, there is one thing the country is lacking, and that is a sea. We all know that summer is the season for a chillin’ beach vacation, and if you are craving the feeling of that salty water on your skin, here are five beaches that are closest to Budapest.
Direct trains from Budapest to the Adriatic Sea starting this Friday!
Omišalj
- Distance from Budapest: 501 km
- Estimated travel time: 4 hours 44 minutes
Omišalj is a small coastal town in the North-West of the Krk Island in Croatia. This is the very first town you see after crossing the Krk Bridge. Apart from the beautiful seaside, the town is located on top of a hill, so it has amazing hiking and cycling paths; it is ideal not only for summer, but also for a fall or a spring trip.
Rijeka
- Distance from Budapest: 503 km
- Estimated travel time: 4 hours 46 minutes
Rijeka is the main seaport and the third-largest city in Croatia. Due to its strategic position and its excellent deep-water port, the city was fiercely contested, especially among Italy, Hungary, and Croatia, changing demographics many times over the centuries. Travel Elsewhere writes: “The most obvious feature of Rijeka is its waterfront. The parts of the waterfront closer to the city centre are more general public spaces lined with boats and yachts. The waterfront promenade can be a nice place to walk about especially if you like admiring different sorts of boats. You’ll also see the Molo Longo breakwater here, which seems to stretch forever out into Kvarner Bay. Even though it’s a long walk, the views you get out over the bay towards the Istrian coast are pretty special.”
Crikvenica
- Distance from Budapest: 509 km
- Estimated travel time: 4 hours 51 minutes
Crikvenica is the largest settlement on the coast of the Vinodol coastal area, Croatia. The town developed on the site of Roman era settlement and military base called Ad Turres. According to Culture Trip, Crikvenica is one of the most underrated places in Croatia. There are many things to do in here besides lying on the beach. These include: surfing, diving, sailing, cycling and hiking. The Crikvenica Riviera is an 8-kilometres-long promenade on which you can see protected coves, parks, villas, gardens, and inland. Luckily, what the city does not have is crowds!
Opatija
- Distance from Budapest: 515 km
- Estimated travel time: 4 hours 53 minutes
Opatija is a town located in Western Croatia. The traditional seaside resort is known for its Mediterranean climate and its historic buildings reminiscent of the Austrian Riviera. Culture Trip writes “Opatija is a magnificent city of history past and present, of invigorating restaurants hidden away in nooks on a marvellous bit of coast … There is an inherent romance to life in Opatija. Everything moves a little slower here as the local people take their time to enjoy life and all it throws at them. If you are looking for a romantic getaway in Croatia, then don’t overlook the Opatija Riviera, an area full of seaside promenades and specially laid-out pedestrian paths.”
Koper
- Distance from Budapest: 576 km
- Estimated travel time: 5 hours 45 minutes
Koper is Slovenia’s largest coastal town, and it is the fifth largest city in the country. It is located in the Southwestern part of the country. Only one percent of Slovenia has a coastline, so Koper is of special importance. Culture Trip writes that the architecture in the Old Town is “the jewel of this working port city and you can’t leave without visiting the Titov trg square and the Praetorian Palace.” Koper also has a charming Mediterranean beach.
Featured image: Illustration/Pixabay
Outrage in Slovenia over Hungarian government’s controversial post
The Slovenian Foreign Office has issued a statement in which they condemn a Twitter post made by the Hungarian government’s official Twitter account.
Hvg reports that feud between Hungary and Slovenia has ignited after the Hungarian government’s official Twitter account shared a picture in reference to the Trianon treaty 99 years ago. As it is known publicly, the treaty ended Hungary’s involvement in World War I and resulted in an enormous loss for the country, both in population and territory. June 4th marked the 99th anniversary of the event.
The Slovenian Foreign office has labelled the picture “offensive” and released a post in which they cited the European Union’s values of cooperation and good-neighbourly relations: something which they deemed the Hungarian government’s post went against.
The incident comes after a week of heated diplomacy in the region: a Szekler cemetery commemorating Hungarian, German and Austrian soldiers was attacked and desecrated by Romanian nationalists. Following the incident, the Romanian Ambassador to Hungary refused to show up for an explanation as requested by the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: an act that even in hostile times is considered rude and impolite.
It also foreshadows more diplomatic standoffs and conflicts with neighbours as the 100-year anniversary of Trianon is coming up in 2020. The Hungarian government has already issued the erection of a new memorial, and some political parties are considering making 2020 a “Trianon memorial year”.
2/3 of the country was taken away https://t.co/ZYKJH78pcm pic.twitter.com/HGngXuvChw
— About Hungary (@abouthungary) 2019. június 4.
MFA #Slovenia condemns the publication of the historical map at @abouthungary , which does not contribute to the strengthening of the EU values of cooperation and good-neighborly relations. The EU has emerged to overcome the burdens of the past and hostility among nations.????
— SLOVENIAN MFA (@MZZRS) 2019. június 7.
Hungarians more pro-American than Central European average – SURVEY
Hungarians tend to be even more pro-American than the central European average, a comprehensive survey released by the Nezopont Institute on Monday shows.
Nézőpont’s survey of 12 central European countries and regions found that on average, 54 percent of central Europe’s population have a favourable view of the United States, while 40 percent have a negative opinion of it.
Among Hungarians, the US is viewed favourably by 59 percent and only 22 percent have an unfavourable view of it.
Nézőpont said
the pro-American view was “clearly in the majority” among Hungarians, adding that there was no demographic group in which most people had a negative opinion of the US.
According to the survey, Romania tends to be the most committed to the US in central Europe, with 79 percent of the country’s population holding pro-American views. Poland was next with 66 percent of its respondents holding a positive opinion of the US, followed by the Czech Republic (62 percent) and Hungary (59 percent).
Only in Austria, Slovenia and Serbia did the majority of respondents have a negative view of the US.
Nézőpont surveyed a total of 12,000 people between Feb. 1 and 27 across Austria, Bavaria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, eastern Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia.
61 million in central Europe reject migration – Survey
In central Europe, 61 million of the 83 million voters reject migration, a survey published by the Nézőpont Institute on Tuesday showed.
Nézőpont asked by phone a sample of 1,000 in each of the nine countries involved in the survey of their opinion on migration.
In Hungary, seven million of a total of eight million voters reject non-European migration.
In the Czech Republic, 8 million, in Poland, 22 million are against it, Nézőpont found.
The number of pro-migration voters is around or below 1 million in Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia, it said.
In total, 61 million voters in the region reject and 16 million approve of migration, Nézőpont said.
The survey was conducted in Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia in February.
HUNGARIANS MORE POSITIVE ABOUT EU THAN AVERAGE – EUROBAROMETER
Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary to create regional operations command
Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia and Slovenia on Wednesday signed a letter of intent to create a Regional Special Operations Component Command (R-SOCC) in Hungary, Defence Minister Tibor Benkő said on Thursday in Brussels.
The command will start operations in 2021 and will be at full capacity by 2024, he told a press conference at NATO’s headquarters, where he attended a two-day meeting of the member states’ defence ministers.
Austria, which is not a member of NATO, is expected to join the agreement later on, Benkő said.
The command will contribute to NATO’s collective security by tackling “challenges from the east and south”, he said.
One focus will be the Western Balkans, Benkő said. The stability and security of the region is of primary importance to Hungary, he said. NATO member states should take a leading role in “finding solution to the situation in Kosovo” and preserving peace there, he said.
NATO also must have responses to changes in security environment of the past few years, he said.
Hungary has started upgrading its defence system, which will also strengthen the Alliance, Benkő noted. Hungary will raise the number of its troops on NATO missions by 200 to 1,200, he announced at the meeting.
Regarding defence spending, Benkő said that by spending 1.4 percent of GDP on defence, Hungary had outperformed the 1.04 percent it has committed to in 2014.
Hungary has made strides towards its NATO obligation of spending 2 percent, he said.
Benkő said Hungary regards Ukraine as a friendly country and it will continue to contribute towards restoring the country’s peace and security. Kiev, however, must live up to its obligations stemming from its Euro-Atlantic aspirations, he added.
Referring to Hungary’s undertaking to provide medical treatment for wounded Ukrainian soldiers, Benkő said: “Hungary has not changed its attitude when it comes to the programme, and undertakes to treat a further 60 wounded Ukrainian soldiers”.
Meanwhile, at an informal meeting of NATO Defence Ministers, Benkő drew Ukraine’s attention to the recommendations of the Venice Commission on Ukraine’s education law. He said it was unlikely that substantial progress would be made before Ukraine’s March presidential elections.
Hungary regards the situation of Transcarpathian Hungarians as “extremely important”, he said, adding that it will not allow minority rights to be undermined.
Regarding the future of the INF nuclear arms treaty, Hungary concurs with NATO’s standpoint that deterrence should be boosted and that dialogue with Moscow intensified. “Even when it comes to deterrence, a balance must be found that allows confidence-building and an conditions on an equal footing.”
Benkő noted that Hungary is not in any direct danger from the war in Ukraine but the military alliance should establish the necessary level of defence capabilities based on its collective security. Accordingly, NATO has developed a contingency plan for all countries, including Hungary, he added.
Featured image: MTI
Hungary, Slovenia make joint bid for EU funding to link gas networks
Hungary and Slovenia have submitted a joint bid for European Union funding for linking their gas networks, which would allow Hungary to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Italy, the foreign minister said on Saturday.
The diversification of gas supplies is a key issue for Hungary, Péter Szijjártó told MTI.
Given the current uncertainty around the construction of the LNG terminal in Croatia, the fact that Croatia’s price offer is well above market price, and the uncertainty of when US and Austrian gas industry companies can begin extracting gas from Romania’s sub-sea gas fields, Hungary must establish new sources of gas delivery, Szijjártó said.
One such scenario is the import of LNG via Italian ports, the minister said. He added, however, that the infrastructure for Hungary to buy LNG directly from Italy was not yet in place.
This is why Hungary has signed an agreement with Slovenia, Szijjártó explained, noting that by connecting the two countries’ gas networks, Hungary will be able to import gas from Italy.
Talks on the required capacity of the interconnector that would link the two countries’ gas networks are ongoing, he said.
A European Council decision on the matter is expected in the spring, Szijjártó added.
Strong central Europe in Hungary, Slovenia’s interest, says state secretary
Hungary and Slovenia have a shared interest in a politically and economically strong central Europe within the European Union that is pro- rather than anti-EU, a government official said on Thursday.
A strong EU cannot exist without strong member states or regions capable of developing, Szabolcs Takács, state secretary for EU Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office, told MTI after bilateral talks with Dobran Bozic, state secretary for foreign affairs and Igor Mally, state secretary at the prime minister’s office.
On the agenda of talks were the European parliamentary elections, European integration, the future of the EU, the European Union budget and illegal migration.
EU projects aimed at improving links between Europe’s northern and southern regions, including Hungarian-Slovenian infrastructure and energy links, were also discussed.
Takács said cross-border cooperation was a fundamental aspect of the EU.
“Cooperation between Hungary and Slovenia is excellent, not only as regards EU affairs, but also for Hungarians living here,” he told MTI by phone, noting the opening of a consulate-general in Lendava (Lendva) in 2016 and referring to a Hungarian government economic development scheme backed by the Slovenian government.
Countries that represent fundamental principles and values like national identity, strengthening EU security and competitiveness, the free movement of workers, and the EU without internal border controls can be successful, he said.
“Neither Slovenia nor Hungary accepts that some of our EU partners … want to maintain border controls within the Schengen area over the long term,” he said.
Takács urged the Romanian EU presidency to take the views of all member states into consideration.
Regarding migration, Hungary respects the positions of member states that want theirs to be a multicultural society. But they should also respect the decisions of Hungarian and Slovenian citizens, he said.
He noted that Slovenia will take up the EU presidency in 2021, and integration of the western Balkans will be a priority for the former Yugoslav state. Both countries, said Takács, were confident that the new European Commission would be enlargement-friendly. “Western Balkan countries must become EU members as soon as possible for the sake of our political, economic and security interests,” he said.
Concerning the EU budget, he said Hungary and Slovenia agreed that a reduction in the size of the next seven-year budget could not be justified by Brexit alone.
Goals, he added, must be set first and then the financial resources allocated to them. The European Commission’s current proposals penalise central European countries, he said.
Takács told his Slovenian partners that Hungary was against supporting illegal migrants from the common budget while the poorest regions received less money.
Hungarian – Slovenian stance: Europe must be able to defend external borders
Foreign ministers Péter Szijjártó of Hungary and Miro Cerar of Slovenia agreed in Ljubljana on Tuesday that Europe should give priority to protecting its external borders and developing the related capabilities.
“Help must be taken to where the trouble is, with development projects carried out in the migrants’ countries of origin so as to prevent another wave of migration,” Szijjártó told MTI over the phone.
During the day, Szijjártó and Slovenian Prime Minister Marjan Sarec are scheduled to open the Ljubljana book festival where Hungary is a guest of honour.
The two ministers also discussed migration, energy security and cooperation. They agreed that Austria’s latest move to re-introduce control along its border with Slovenia and Hungary were unfair and unacceptable.
In legal terms it is incompatible with the Schengen agreement, Szijjártó said, adding that both Hungary and Slovenia are making major efforts to protect the external borders of the European Union. He noted that Hungary had spent 1 billion euros on border protection over the past three years. If the Austrians want to make sure that no migrants enter their territory, they should help Hungary and Slovenia protect the EU’s external borders, he said.
Concerning infrastructure projects, Szijjártó said the construction of a Hungarian-Slovenian gas pipeline will be accelerated to enhance both countries’ energy security. The Slovenian section will be completed by 2023, giving Hungary access to LNG terminals in Italy, he said. Also, the power transmission line linking the two countries’ high-voltage electricity grids will be completed by 2021, he added.
Szijjártó said two new border crossing roads will be opened next year, one at Lendvadedes and another at Orfalu. A feasibility study for developing the Redics-Lendava (Lendva) railway line has been completed and submitted to Slovenia, he added.
Szijjártó told Cerar that Hungary would once again implement an economic development scheme for the Mura region next year which will involve distributing 1 billion forints from the Hungarian budget among SMEs in the region.
Security cooperation is exemplary between the two countries and will become even tighter if Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and Slovakia set up a joint division command within NATO, Szijjártó said. Hungary will continue monitoring Slovenia’s airspace in tandem with Italy, a mission started four years ago, he added.
Trade relations have been developing well, with the turnover expected to increase by 13 percent to exceed 2.5 billion euros this year, Szijjártó said.
Featured image: MTI
Hungarian Permanent Conference held in Budapest
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán spoke about central Europe gaining strength as compared to the German-French axis in Europe, at a meeting of the Hungarian Permanent Conference (MÁÉRT) held behind closed doors in Budapest on Friday.
On a recording posted onto the government’s website, Orbán said the volume and value of German-French trade make up merely half of the one between the Visegrad Group and Germany which he called “an unprecedented development”.
The prime minister said he had predicted earlier that central Europe, including the Carpathian Basin, would become the engine of Europe’s economic growth in the years to come.
Orbán said the accession of Montenegro, Macedonia and Serbia to the European Union would be a major step towards enhancing central Europe’s importance in geopolitical terms.
“The reunification of the Balkans is a shared interest of the EU, central Europe and Hungary,” he said.
Addressing relations with Croatia, Orbán said that the Hungarian government had always considered the dispute concerning national oil and gas company Mol an inter-company affair rather than an inter-governmental issue.
“I have tried to explain to them that lifting the Mol dispute to inter-governmental level would justify more forceful action by the Hungarian state which would do major damage to bilateral relations,” he said.
Legal conflicts between companies need to be judged by international courts and the Hungarian state will accept all their decisions in order to settle the conflict, he said.
The prime minister said he would pay an official visit to Croatia in early December.
Orbán expressed hope that large cross-border projects can be implemented in Croatia’s Slavonia region and southern Baranya in Hungary.
Commenting on Slovenia, Orbán said that Marjan Sarec, the new prime minister, was performing without fault in all international forums but promoted a different line in migration than Hungary, supporting the UN migration package.
Orbán added, however, that Hungary’s plan to participate in the development of the Koper port and the extension of the rail link there would not be realised. As a consequence,
the Hungarian government has started talks on access to a port and investment opportunities with Trieste instead of Koper, he added.
Commenting on western Europe, Orbán said that “west of Vienna the situation is hopeless in terms of demographics” because multiculturalism has triggered nearly irreversible social trends in large cities. It will be “spectacular” to witness how the structure and order of political representation will change there, he added.
Assessing economic development programmes funded by Hungary abroad, Orbán said it makes no sense supporting businesses which are then exposed to reprisals by the state that exercises supreme power. Hungary therefore asks the ethnic Hungarian parties to secure through negotiations the majority nation’s consent to such programmes, he said.
This is what happened in Romania where Hungary is now able to implement economic development programmes with the agreement of the majority nation, he said.
Orbán said the MEPs of the Romanian house speaker’s party, even if they belong to the Liberal group, had voted against the Sargentini report that condemned Hungary in the European Parliament. As a consequence, the European lawmakers of Hungary’s governing parties unanimously supported Romania in a vote on an EP resolution that attacked that country earlier this week.
Regarding Slovakia, Orbán said the Hungarian-Slovak Most-Hid party posed a problem of structural nature, raising the question whether mixed inter-ethnic parties or ethnic-based parties are more useful in the region. Orbán warned it would be “fatally dangerous” to change over to mixed inter-ethnic based representation which he called “a trap to be avoided”.
Orbán described Serbian-Hungarian relations as “unprecedented”, adding that the past few years had seen efforts to raise them to strategic level. He appreciated the Hungarian and Serbian presidents’ efforts to pave the way for historic reconciliation.
Hungary would be happy if Serbia’s legal regulations were generally followed in the Carpathian Basin as a whole, he said, adding that cultural autonomy has been practically achieved.
Commenting on Ukraine, Orbán said
Hungary “is not getting on” with the leaders of that country. “We come to an agreement on Monday and next day they say that no agreement has been reached,” he said, accusing the Ukrainian leaders of failing to take the negotiations seriously.
Their latest proposals, he said, made things even worse, and the open deployment of the secret services against ethnic Hungarians and suspected dual citizens went beyond what is tolerable in the Carpathian Basin.
Hungary can do only one thing, making it clear that the only road for Ukraine to NATO and the EU leads through Hungary and Budapest, Orbán said.
Hungarian President Áder held talks in Slovenia
Europe’s external borders must be protected while the internal borders should be kept open, President János Áder said in Ljubljana on Friday after talks with Borut Pahor, his Slovenian counterpart.
At a press conference after the talks, Áder also called for “stricter than ever before” measures against humans smugglers.
Parties at the talks agreed that countries where migrants come from should be assisted “from EU sources but involving third countries”, while assistance should also be provided to countries accommodating millions of refugees such as Turkey, Jordan or Lebanon. Such measures would be aimed at “weakening the urge for migration”, the president said.
Concerning bilateral talks, Áder said that
Hungary “wants to remain a good neighbour and predictable partner” and noted that bilateral trade was dynamic, while a mutual goal was to improve the trade infrastructure.
He added that the motorways of the two countries would be linked with the completion of the last Hungarian section by the end of 2019, and a year later the power grids of Hungary and Slovenia would also be connected.
Speaking on another subject, Áder called it important in terms of European security policy that countries of the Western Balkans should join the community “following a clear scenario”. He said it was a shared objective that direct agricultural subsidies should stay at the same level, and argued that countries that joined the community at a later date need those funds to close the gap with older members. Slovenia and Hungary joined the EU with some delay and had to compete with countries that had been helped to a better position, he said.
Asked about the EU’s Article 7 procedure against Hungary, Áder said that the procedure had just been launched and that he was “interested to see its outcome”. Hungary would react after the European decisions are made, he said.
At the press conference,
Pahor made special mention of Slovenians in Hungary and his country’s Hungarian minority. He said he had met ethnic Slovenians from Hungary, who had praised the Hungarian government’s efforts concerning minorities.
He requested that Hungary should create more jobs to encourage ethnic Slovenian youth to stay in their homeland along the river Rába. Slovenia also seeks to help its ethnic Hungarian community, he added.
Pahor also praised economic cooperation between Slovenia and Hungary, and said that the turnover of goods and services would soon reach an annual 2 billion euros. He said the high turnover was “a sign of very close cooperation”.
Áder also met Dejan Zidan, the speaker of Slovenia’s parliament, and had talks primarily focusing on climate change.
Áder and his host inaugurated a bench dedicated to the friendship between their peoples in the castle of Ljubljana, next to a similar bench of Slovenian-Croatian friendship. Áder also laid a wreath of commemoration at a plaque of count Lajos Batthyány, martyred prime minister of the first independent Hungarian government in 1848-49, in the castle.
Photo: MTI
5th conference of lawmakers from the Danube countries opens in the Hungarian Parliament
Addressing a conference on Friday, Speaker of Parliament László Kövér said the Danube countries could only uphold sustainable regional development through cooperation.
Hungary considers the European Union’s strategy for the Danube region a key factor in central and eastern European political cooperation, Kövér said in his opening address to the 5th conference of lawmakers from the Danube countries in Parliament.
He said it was encouraging to see that policymakers, experts and residents of the Danube region were increasingly conscious about focused cooperation.
Hungary has contributed a number of initiatives to the Danube strategy, Kövér said.
“We have given coordinated responses to the shared challenges and we have been able to present results that are meaningful to the entire region.”
The speaker noted that the EU approved the Danube strategy during Hungary’s presidency in 2011. In 2014, Budapest hosted the second conference of Danube country deputies. Last year, Hungary was in charge of carrying out the presidential duties of the strategy and Budapest hosted the annual Danube strategy forum with several non-EU prime ministers in attendance, he added.
House Speaker of Hungary Kövér noted that in his opening address to last year’s forum, Prime Minister Viktor Orban had underlined the importance of allowing non-EU countries to join the strategy, as well as the need to increase funding for Danube region development projects.
Hungary is committed to the successful implementation of the strategy and has always considered the strategy’s most important goals as its own, Kövér said.
“Geography is stronger than any ideology,” Kövér said, emphasising the River Danube‘s role in both dividing and uniting the countries it flows through.
The speaker added that although the Danube countries all benefit from the river, they must also cooperate in protecting themselves from floods, preventing industrial accidents and responding to the river’s waste pollution.
The conference was attended by Serbia’s National Assembly President Maja Gojkovic, Slovenian Parliamentary Speaker Dejan Zidan, Ivo Bereka, the vice-president of the Czech senate and Hungarian Socialist Party MEP Tibor Szanyi, among others.
The participants adopted a joint declaration at the end of the event stating that lawmakers must play a more active role in fulfilling the targets of the Paris climate agreement and boosting public awareness of it. In the document, the conference’s participants welcomed steps by individual countries to adjust local efforts to sustainable development goals while encouraging parliaments to regularly debate governments’ progress reports on the national plan. Also national plans should fall in line with other national and regional strategies and trends, it added.
The participants noted in the joint declaration that regular consultations between parliaments, representatives of professional and business organisations and civil organisations effectively help support sustainable development and understanding its various aspects. The declaration added that MPs would observe scientific developments and regularly consult on them with the electorate.
It added that Romania’s parliament is ready to host the next conference of lawmakers from the Danube countries next year.
Kövér is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his Serbian and Slovenian counterparts as well as Bulgaria’s deputy parliamentary speaker later on Friday.
Photo: MTI
Zalaegerszeg to support Lendava’s European Cultural Capital bid
The south-western Hungarian city of Zalaegerszeg has signed a letter of intent to support as a partner the north-eastern Slovenian Lendava’s (Lendva) bid to become a European Capital of Culture in 2025, the local government of Zalaegerszeg said on Friday.
As a European cultural capital, Lendava strives to present to the European public the cultural values and traditions of a region that is home to Hungarian, Slovenian, Croatian and German-speaking people, it said.
Working in partnership with the European Cultural Capital’s program council, Zalaegerszeg will participate in designing joint cultural, touristic and environmentally sound transport programmes, it said.
Mayor Zoltán Balaicz of Zalaegerszeg, who signed the document in Lendava, said the bid’s success would greatly benefit his city as well.
As we wrote May, an enormous test track for vehicle industry purposes is being built near Zalaegerszeg, Hungary. The first to try out the track in Autumn will be a German car manufacturer, read more HERE.
Regional farm ministers press for equal protection of agribusinesses, regardless of size
The farm ministers of the Visegrad Group — Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia — together with their counterparts from Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia and Romania issued a joint declaration urging equal treatment for small as well as large agribusinesses in a draft directive of the European Commission at a meeting in Nitra, Slovakia, on Wednesday.
The EC directive would prohibit buyers of farm products from making unilateral or retroactive changes to their contracts with suppliers, and from canceling orders for perishables at the last minute, the press office of Hungary’s farm ministry said.
The directive, drafted thanks to the work of the Visegrad Group over the past several years, is a “step in the right direction” but provides limited protection to small and mid-sized agribusinesses, it added.
As we wrote a few days ago, Hungary’s agriculture has capacity to supply wheat of milling quality to twenty million people, twice the population of the country, read more HERE.
Photo: MTI