Within the new framework strategy being negotiated by the European Commission, the Hungarian Government wishes to enforce the standpoint according to which migration must be stopped, not managed.
The Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister’s State Secretary for International Communication and Relations Zoltán Kovács, who arrived in London for his regular bimonthly or quarterly visit to inform representatives of British public life and the British press, told Hungarian news agency MTI: “In addition, Hungary’s firmly represented position includes maintaining respect for member state sovereignty and doing away with the application of double standards”.
“Taken together, from a theoretical and cultural perspective this means protecting and respecting the theoretical, philosophical and practical foundations of the Christian culture that is the foundation of the European Union”, he added.
According to Mr. Kovács, this is also supplemented by the need to respect member states’ room for manoeuvre with relation to economic policy, meaning the acknowledgement and acceptance of the fact that every EU member state has the right to develop its own economic policy.
With relation to the prime ministerial election process going on in Great Britain, the State Secretary said: “Whatever the decision, Hungary will respect it”.
“It has always been particularly characteristic of British-Hungarian relations, for instance with regard to disputed issues related to the termination of Britain’s membership of the EU (Brexit), that Hungary professes: only the British voters have the right to decide what happens in their country”, Mr. Kovács stressed.
“The Hungarian Government has a relationship with both candidates that guarantees the continuation of cooperation based on mutual respect and a practical approach”, he added.
Former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson and current Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt are vying for the post of Conservative Party Prime Minister following the exiting Theresa May.
May announced her resignation as leader of the Conservative Party on 7 June after the House of Commons rejected her Brexit agreement proposal for the third time.
Her departure also means the end of her term as Prime Minister, but she will be continuing to perform her role in both positions from an executive perspective until the expected election of her successor at the end of July.
At his press conference on Monday, Mr. Kovács emphasised: “According to Hungary’s continuously represented official position, the only important and standard-setting criteria with relation to Great Britain’s exit from the European Union is that a fair Brexit is required, meaning a system of conditions that respects the decision of the British people”.
“This includes the fact that, for instance, there is no need for lecturing”, the State Secretary said, highlighting: “According to feedback, the British party welcomes this Hungarian position”.
“However, Hungary continues to uphold its opinion according to which a good solution with relation to Brexit can only be found based on a unified EU standpoint developed by the 27 remaining member states. It would be irrational and impossible to think along the lines of individual solutions”, Mr. Kovács stressed.
“It is also of priority importance to Hungary that the rights and status of Hungarian citizens living in Great Britain based on EU law must be preserved in a manner made possible by international law”, he highlighted. According to Mr. Kovács, Hungary has received guarantees from the British Government that this will be the case.