Relations between Hungary and Slovakia are based on political and personal trust, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated following the summit of Hungarian and Slovak government officials organised in Budapest. Slovak Head of Government Robert Fico envisaged success for Hungary and Slovakia and stressed the importance of a closer Central European cooperation.
The Hungarian Prime Minister last received his Slovak counterpart in November 2012, within the framework of the Hungarian-Slovak economic forum organised by the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MKIK). During the course of today’s meeting, several bilateral agreements were concluded by representatives of the two cabinets, which will greatly influence relations between the two countries in the coming period.
In his press statement, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán pointed out that Central Europe has a good opportunity to become a determinative economic region within the European Union. Hungary and Slovakia are following the same path and it is up to the two countries how they utilise Europe’s broadening opportunities, he said.
With regard to handling the economic crisis, Prime Minister Robert Fico called it important that officials of the two countries exchange their experience and information. He noted that despite the economic crisis, Slovak exports to Hungary had increased by 11 percent in 2012, adding that the two countries are capable of close cooperation. He envisaged successful years for both Hungary and Slovakia, and voiced his conviction that countries in the Central European region will need to strive for an even closer cooperation than before. The Slovak head of government welcomed that Hungary will be chairing the Visegrad Group and said that during its EU presidency in 2016, Slovakia will gladly utilise Hungary’s experiences.
Prior to the press briefing, a declaration of intent on funding the development of the transport infrastructure that spans the common border between Hungary and the Slovak Republic; as well as cooperation agreements between the Hungarian and Slovak Investment and Trade Agencies, and between the Association of Electrotechnical Industry of the Slovak Republic (ZEP SR) and the Hungarian Electrotechnical Association (MEE) were signed.
According to the agreements, during the period 2014-2020, 25 new border-crossing road construction projects will be completed and a joint committee will be established to foster cross-border public transport. In addition, it was agreed that the electric and gas supply networks of the two countries should be integrated.
The Fundamental Law of Hungary recognises nationalities living in Hungary as constituent elements of the State. Accordingly, Prime Minister Orbán said that Hungary’s Slovak community is an instrumental factor in bilateral ties based on mutual trust. During the meeting, he informed his Slovak counterpart that the Hungarian Government had recently decided to ensure funds to renovate two Slovak language schools in Hungary. Furthermore, in October 2012, the two prime ministers inaugurated the Pilis Slovakians' Centre in Pilisszentkereszt to support the national and cultural identity of Hungary’s Slovak community.
In addition to the two prime ministers, Hungarian participants at the inter-governmental summit included Deputy Prime Minister Semjén Zsolt, Minister for National Economy Mihály Varga, Minister for Foreign Affairs János Martonyi, Minister for Rural Development Sándor Fazekas, Minister for National Development Zsuzsa Németh and State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Economic Relations Péter Szijjártó. The Slovak government was represented by Minister of Economy Tomás Malatinsky, Minister of Foreign Affairs Miroslav Lajcák, Minister of Transport Ján Pociatek and Minister of Agriculture Lubomir Jahnatek.
(Prime Minister's Office)
