Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said talks underway between Hungary and the EU on community funding were “frustrating”.
The foreign minister said the EU’s freezing the funds due to Hungary was “no problem in terms of the budget”, but it was “a matter of principle”. Funds to members from the EU budget are “not humanitarian donations” and refusing to make those payments for political reasons is “unacceptable”, he insisted. The conflict between Hungary and the EU “arises from the fact that Brussels does not like the way the government rules the country”, he said, adding that the government “opposes federalism and supports national competencies”. “We are a right-wing, patriotic and Christian government running fully against the mainstream and Brussels cannot swallow that,” he said. Concerning Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO membership, Minister Szijjártó said the Hungarian government supported their bids, adding he thought parliament would support a relevant proposal by the government now before the assembly. Asked about Hungary’s support for the Bosnian Serb Republic, Minister Szijjártó said Hungary had “very good” relations with Serbia, and considered stability in the Western Balkans crucial. Economic stability is a key component, that is why the Hungarian government supports small and medium-sized companies in the Bosnian republic, he added.