Visegrád Group x France: Hungary aims to revive EU’s competitiveness and security

The foreign ministers of the Visegrád Group including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, on Thursday met with the French foreign minister in Bratislava to discuss issues regarding the future, security and competitiveness of the European Union.

At a joint press conference with his counterparts after the event, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said the most important objectives for Hungary regarding the future of the EU are reviving the bloc’s competitiveness and security.

“We, central Europeans, have done extremely well in these aspects… so we are justified in making propositions,” Szijjártó said. Growth in central European countries has outstripped the EU average and its policies focusing on citizens’ security have succeeded in stemming the inflow of migrants, he said.

The bloc’s competitiveness can only be maintained through a robust inner competition, Szijjártó said.

Large countries should therefore refrain from passing regulations curbing the competitiveness of central and eastern European members, he added.

One such regulation would be tax harmonisation, which would lead to steep tax hikes in those countries, he said. Thanks to their strong financial and budgetary discipline, CEE countries can afford lower taxes, he said.

It is “unacceptable” that France should aim to “pass on” the effects of its “irresponsible tax policies” to Europe, he said.