The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Deputy State Secretary for European and American Relations Kristóf Altusz was on a working visit to Madrid on 7-8 November, where he attended a roundtable discussion of Visegrád Group (V4) deputy state secretaries organised within the framework of the Hungarian presidency of the V4.
At the European Commission’s representation, Mr. Altusz presented the goals of the Hungarian presidency and stressed the importance of stability and security, competitiveness and infrastructure links from the perspective of Central Europe.
In Spanish Congress at the joint meeting of the Foreign Affairs and European Affairs committees, the representatives of the four Visegrád Group countries spoke out in favour of maintaining the Schengen system, a rational solution to the migration crisis, and the continuation of the EU’s Cohesion and Structural funds.
The prestigious V4 delegation was also received by State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Jorge Toledo, with whom the parties discusses the Posting Directive, energy security and the situation of minorities in Ukraine.
Within the framework of bilateral talks, Mr. Altusz also met with his Spanish counterpart Fidel Sendagorta to discuss the reinforcement of transatlantic relations, in addition to which he also took part in background discussions with the lead editors of Spanish newspapers El Pais and ABC. The State Secretary’s visit to Madrid was also an opportunity to meet non-governmental organisations, including a detailed review of the Catalonian situation at Spain’s leading foreign policy think tank the FAES.
The Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakian and Hungary introduced themselves to Madrid’s public within the framework of a very successful classical music concert organised by the Hungarian V4 presidency.