Szabolcs Takács, Minister of State for EU Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office held talks with Lucia Puttrich, Hessian Minister of European and Federal Affairs on 18 July 2017.
At the meeting, the parties reviewed the future of the European Union, the migration crisis and Brexit. The partners agreed that the European Union is not just an economic, but also a value community, and therefore the Member States have a great deal of responsibility for passing on their heritage. Both parties stressed that the sustainable management of migration is a key issue as the crisis is a long-term challenge that affects all of us, which we can only respond to together.
Mr Takács confirmed that the reinforcement of the external borders of the European Union is the key to preventing the illegal influx of migrants in which Hungary has played a determining part by virtue of the fence built on the Hungarian-Serbian border section from funds allocated from the national budget. By protecting the Schengen borders, Hungary has greatly contributed and will continue to contribute to the security of all the Member States of the EU. The parties agreed that everyone must take a share of the management of the crisis.
It is unacceptable for Hungary that Member States can only manifest solidarity by participating in a mandatory relocation cooperation scheme which is clearly not viable. The Minister of State further drew attention to the fact that Hungary is a committed member of the European Union, and the European Union enjoys high popularity and support among the Hungarian people. The EU must therefore give authentic and practical answers to the everyday needs of citizens, and the institutions of the EU must respect the decisions adopted jointly by the heads of state and government. During the course of the EU reform process, it is particularly important to preserve and to restore the achievements of European integration: the integrity of the Single Market, the balance of the four fundamental freedoms, a fully and comprehensively operational Schengen system, and the cohesion policy focusing on the less advanced regions which provides mutual advantages both for the net contributor Member States and the beneficiaries.
The Hungarian Government believes that the observance of the common EU regulations and law-abiding practices on the part of every Member State and institution are important: whether in the context of our legal disputes with the Commission, the protection of the external Schengen borders, or budgetary discipline which, in combination with the successful economic policy of recent years, has elevated Hungary to a leading factor in the region. The process which has taken place since the change of regime has been characterised by strong economic relations built with Germany from which both parties have been able to profit. In the context of Brexit, the parties reviewed the path leading to the departure of the UK from the EU as well as the EU and national problems that eventually led to Britain’s decision to leave the EU.