At an ambassadors’ conference on Monday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that last year we had to face many unexpected challenges, but in this respect 2016 will be “even tougher”.
In his speech at the conference, which was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Budapest, Péter Szijjártó stressed that last year’s challenges have this year been replaced by “blackmailing”. This is the result of the view of some people in the West that European Union funding to Hungary is some kind of humanitarian aid. The reality is that it is included in EU treaties, which do not include any stipulations stating that they are only due if the countries of Central Europe agree with the European mainstream. For this reason the Minister asked the Hungarian ambassadors present to reject such statements “proudly and courageously”, because EU funding is not some kind of handout, but something which is our due.
Among the greatest challenges for 2016, Mr. Szijjártó listed the immigration crisis, assuring the energy security of Central Europe, ongoing economic issues and the war in Ukraine.
The immigration crisis will remain on the agenda again this year, and all forecasts indicate that the migration pressure on the continent will increase further. According to the most conservative estimates, there are currently 30–35 million people to the south and south-east of Europe who could relatively easily decide to set off for Europe. Mr. Szijjártó said that he expects a continuation of heated debate on proposals for a solution to the crisis.
With regard to the region’s energy security, the Foreign Minister said this was not just the responsibility and concern of Central Europe, but of all Europe. The beginning of extraction on Romania’s Black Sea gas fields and the realisation of the Hungarian-Romanian gas interconnector will mean a new source of energy for Hungary, he pointed out. He added that the Paks nuclear plant will also be on the agenda, but Hungary is proceeding in exactly the same way as everyone else who has constructed a nuclear power plant recently, and the country is not prepared to give up this opportunity simply because, for economic reasons, some people are continually trying to slow the project down.
On the subject of ongoing economic challenges, the Minister said that there is an unprecedented level of competition for investment projects and export opportunities, and he called on ambassadors to work even more effectively and dynamically in this field.
With regard to the situation in Ukraine, Mr. Szijjártó said that in his view it is in the interests of Europe for pragmatic dialogue between the EU and Russia to recommence and not become impossible in the long term. The sanctions must be debated and, although everyone must conform to the Minsk Agreements, we must also consider the damage done to the Hungarian and European economies by the sanctions, he explained.
Mr. Szijjártó stressed that the restructuring of Hungarian diplomacy has given rise to a policy that focuses on the economy, and 2015 was the first full year in which the Ministry preformed its duties according to this new structure. Last year’s figures are extremely encouraging, including the fact that Hungary achieved its highest ever level of exports and a record-breaking foreign trade surplus, he pointed out.
The Foreign Minister also spoke about the fact that Hungary is not striving to expand its policies of opening towards the East and South at the expense of European and transatlantic relations, but that in addition to the continued development of traditional Western markets it is also worth investing energy on expanding in these directions. The Government’s policies are already having an effect, with Chinese, Japanese and Indian companies in fourth, fifth and sixth places respectively on the list of the biggest foreign investors in Hungary, he added.
In 2015 the Government decided on the opening of six foreign representations, two of which – in Tashkent and Addis Ababa – have already begun operating; the remainder will be open by the end of the year, the Foreign Minister stated. There are also proposals for the expansion of the Latin American diplomatic network, he noted.
Mr. Szijjártó also touched on the fact that changes throughout the world are more rapid and have a much greater impact than previously. Therefore, in the interests of realising successful foreign policy in such unparalleled conditions, hard work and even more determination is required on the part of the diplomatic corps. The Minister thanked the heads of Hungary’s diplomatic missions for their efforts and for successfully aiding the advancement of Hungarian foreign policy.