Minister Bóka: Hungarian presidency of the European Council has been a success
The EU affairs minister said Hungary's EU presidency has been "distinctive, active and strategic, and an unquestionable success".
The EU affairs minister said Hungary's EU presidency has been "distinctive, active and strategic, and an unquestionable success".
The two countries reached a "strategic milestone" this year, when Hungary became the first non-neighbouring country to which Turkey exports natural gas.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, in a Friday morning interview, emphasized Hungary's efforts to mediate peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, underscoring a proposal for a Christmas ceasefire.
The prime minister and Erdogan will discuss current international affairs, including the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, chances of peace, and bilateral matters.
Hungary supported the Schengen accession of Bulgaria and Romania as early as 2011 when it first held the EU presidency.
"We proposed a Christmas ceasefire and a significant exchange of prisoners of war. Regrettably, Ukrainian President Zelensky point-blank rejected this (proposal) ... We have done what we were able to," PM Orbán said.
Viktória Ferenc said she hoped that the Ukrainian government and Ukraine's minorities could "cooperate constructively" to restore minority rights in their country.
The prime minister and Putin discussed ongoing tensions in the Middle East in connection with the recent developments in Syria.
Hungary's government shared a cautiously optimistic outlook on peace in Ukraine during today’s Government Info session.
Minister Nagy said putting the budget balance in the black, excluding debt servicing costs, was of "key importance".
The prime minister said that "these days when two people, two men, sit down to talk either in Europe or America, they can certainly not avoid having a word about peace and about war".
Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky told parliament's defense and law enforcement committee at his annual hearing that the country’s military had already taken big steps towards achieving this goal.
Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and 4iG chief executive Gellert Jaszai were also present.
Fake news connected to the "struggle" in the Middle East "involving terrorist organizations" could put the whole country "in very serious danger", the foreign minister said.
Minister Nagy said local businesses, especially SMEs, needed to become more efficient and boost productivity to preserve the country's competitiveness and keep up with wage increases.