"Montenegro and Albania are also among our important trade partners, as Hungarian products have an excellent reputation in both countries", said Minister for Rural Development Sándor Fazekas following meetings with the representatives of the two countries' agriculture ministries.

Topics at the two-day meetings included the expansion of the European Union, of which Hungary is a committed supporter, with special attention to the Western Balkans region, as well as the boosting of agricultural and food industry trade with the two countries. "Albania has shown interest in Hungarian poultry and poultry products, and would also like to begin studying our husbandry technology. In Montenegro, new opportunities may open up for Hungarian pork and confectionary industry products", stressed the Minister.

During his visit to Montenegro, Sándor Fazekas met with Minister of Agriculture Tarzan Milošević and Minister of the Environment Predreg Sekulić.

One of the most important and most difficult tasks for Montenegro's accession to the EU is compliance with the stipulations of the environmental chapter of the accession negotiations. The Ministry of Rural Development is prepared to provide expert help to its Montenegrin partners within the areas they require, such as in the field of waste management, within the framework of EU-finances development projects. Hungary is placing special attention to cooperation with Montenegro within the fields of the environment and water management. The Ministry of Rural Development is also counting on Montenegro's active participation with regard to the Danube Strategy.

Sándor Fazekas met with Minister of Agriculture Genc Ruli in Albania.

The Ministry of Rural Development's background organisations have been organising successful professional training programs within the framework of FAO programmes since 2009, in which Albanian experts also took part. 4 students from Kosovo and 19 from Serbia have had the opportunity to study at Hungarian agrarian universities since 2008 with the help of the FAO-Ministry of Rural Development student grant programme. New courses will begin in the autumn of 2013. The Hungarian Ministry responsible for agrarian affairs is open towards the organisation of further professional consultations, including on issues relating to animal husbandry, animal health and food safety. The new LEADER regulations will soon come into force in Hungary, which provides an opportunity for Hungarian local action groups to cooperate with both Albanian and Montenegrin organisations that are organised along LEADER lines. The Ministry of Rural Development welcomes this strengthening of ties and the Hungarian National Rural Network is providing help with finding prospective partners.

(Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Development)