N

Italy's former foreign minister defends Hungary over EU criticism

The former minister praised the Visegrad Four countries’ efforts in promoting “dialogue between the West and the East”, adding that Europe’s integration process could not have got started without the contributions of Budapest

Italy's former foreign minister has criticized the EU for accusations it made towards Hungary.

The “frequent, superficial … and undeserved accusations and criticisms” levelled at Hungary in the European Union are “unfair”, former Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said, according to MTI.

Hungary is “proudly European”, Frattini said at the inauguration ceremony of a bust of József Antall (1932-1993), the first prime minister after Hungary’s transition to democracy, in Rome.

The former minister praised the Visegrad Four countries’ efforts in promoting “dialogue between the West and the East”, adding that Europe’s integration process could not have got started without the contributions of Budapest.

He said Europe today was short on “forward-thinking politicians” like he said Alcide De Gasperi was for Italy and József Antall for Hungary.

Gergely Gulyás, deputy speaker of the Hungarian parliament, said Antall could not picture his country anywhere other than in the reunified Europe.