Hungary will take over the Presidency of the Salzburg Forum on 1 July 2012.

The Salzburg Forum, founded on the initiative of Austria in 2000, is a Central-European internal security partnership between the Interior Ministers of Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. The Salzburg Forum objectives focus on three areas: fostering regional cooperation in internal security, improving representation of interests in the European institutions, strengthening relations with third countries.

The new, jointly developed 18-month work programme, applicable from 1 July 2012 will be implemented under the Hungarian Presidency. In the framework of the programme we will resolutely promote the Council of the European Union to decide on the Schengen accession of Bulgaria and Romania at latest by the end of September. Interior aspects of the Schengen governance and the new EU budget post-2013 are of high importance for all Salzburg Forum countries therefore these topics will be taken into particular consideration under the Hungarian Presidency.

With regard to the practical cooperation between the Salzburg Forum countries we consider it important to sign the agreement on cross-border enforcement of road safety related traffic offences which may be concluded at the Ministerial Conference to be held in October in Hungary. The increasing irregular migratory pressure justifies intensification of joint efforts as a result we will focus on closer cooperation with the Western Balkan countries.

Ministry of Interior will organize in the coming six-months meeting of the Interior Ministers of Salzburg Forum countries, Western Balkan countries, and Moldova furthermore many expert meetings will take place.

(Ministry of Interior, Press Department)