Hungary's foreign minister has highlighted how the appearance of a ‘strong Visegrád voice’ in the debate on the future of Europe is also in the interests of the EU.
At the official opening of the Századvég Summer University, Péter Szijjártó, minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said the EU must become competitive in the global economy and restore security for its people.
“We must make our voice heard in the debate on the future of Europe, particularly in the interests of making the EU competitive within the global economy, restoring the security of the European people, preserving our Christian culture and European identity, engaging in a fair and open debate on the next seven-year budget, protecting European democracy and enabling the enlargement of the European Union," the minister said.
Minister Szijjártó also said plans to introduce tax harmonisation in the European Union are unacceptable.
On the subject of security, he stressed that the shift in the position of Western Europe must also appear in the form of action.
“The EU is facing historic challenges of a fundamentally security nature," the minister said. “At the same time, values that were previously regarded as unshakeable are currently under attack in Europe, values that used to represent the foundations of the European social and economic system," He added.
Minister Szijjártó said an extremely lively debate has developed on the future of Europe. He said that the V4 has represented the voice of common sense throughout this debate and will continue to do so in future and make their voice heard.
Central Europe has become the engine of EU growth and this region is the safest in the European Union, he concluded.