The transport ministers of Eastern Partnership countries adopted a Joint Declaration at their second meeting in Luxembourg on 9 October, 2013. The parties agreed to continue cooperation as well as the gradual approximation of the regulatory legislation to the EU law in all transport areas. The ministers also approved the map of regional transport networks and the list of priority infrastructure development projects.

As part of the European Neighbourhood Policy, Eastern Partnership aims at invigorating economic and political relations between the European Union and six former Soviet states (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine). The first meeting of the transport ministers of participating countries was held in Cracow in October 2011. Within the framework of the then established Transport Panel, with two to three annual sessions, EU States, the Commission and Partnership countries have expert-level consultations on sectoral issues.

At the second ministerial meeting, the maps of the Eastern Partnership Transport Networks as well as the project lists were approved. In the Joint Declaration, signatories confirmed their recommendation for the European Commission to include the map into the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) guidelines. Minister of State for Infrastructure Pál Völner underlined in his address that, from member states of the Eastern Partnership, it was with the neighbouring Ukraine that Hungary had the closest cooperation, but transport relations were steadily developing with further member states as well.

The eastward extension of the trans-European network would have positive effects on the transport of goods as well as passengers, he said. Speaking of recent network development in Hungary, the Minister of State mentioned the inauguration of the section of M3 motorway between Nyíregyháza and Őr in January.

The continuation of the motorway up to Vásárosnamény is to be completed by the end of next year. In air transport, the capitals of two new Eastern Partnership countries have become directly accessible by flight from Budapest since this summer, through the direct air connection established towards Baku in Azerbaijan and Minsk in Belarus, he added.

(Ministry of National Development)