The use of nuclear energy and the rights of EU citizens were the main topics of talks in London between Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and his British counterpart on 14 January 2014.

Minister János Martonyi told Hungarian News Agency MTI after the negotiations that he agreed with Foreign Secretary William Hague that both countries have a need for nuclear energy and an independent and secure energy supply. Both countries also share the goal of improving competitiveness.

As to the question of whether the tightening of regulations regarding the labour-related free movement of European Union citizens introduced by the UK government had been a subject of discussion, Minister Martonyi said that during his talks with Hague he had underlined the principle that without the complete realisation of EU freedoms there would be no single internal market.

Martonyi said it was Britain who sought to strengthen the internal market, so it is “difficult to understand” why the UK “is singling out one of the four fundamental freedoms and is striving, separately, to restrict it”.

Minister Martonyi noted that the number of immigrants from Central Europe to the UK has decreased significantly in recent years. These job-seekers do not pose a risk, he said, adding that attempts to abuse the British welfare system should be prevented but bilateral relations provided an adequate framework to deal with the problem.

Minister Martonyi added that parties at the talks saw eye to eye “on theoretical aspects of enforcing European freedom rights”, but “the British have problems, concerns, and clearly political priorities, too” as far as welfare services are concerned.

At the talks, Minister Martonyi invited his counterpart to Hungary for a meeting of Visegrád Four foreign ministers in May. The meeting will focus on energy and reviewing ties between Central Europe and the UK.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)