With their full membership, "one of the priorities of the Hungarian EU Presidency will be fulfilled," stressed the EU Affairs Minister.Continue reading
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni received Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at her office on Wednesday afternoon. The two leaders agreed to intensify political dialogue and to continue coordination on key international issues.
In particular, they discussed the situation in the Middle East, a just and lasting peace in Ukraine based on the principles of the UN Charter, and international law. The politicians also expressed their commitment to reconstruction of the country, looking ahead to the next Ukraine Recovery Conference, to be hosted by Italy in July 2025.
Ho incontrato oggi a Palazzo Chigi il primo ministro ungherese @PM_ViktorOrban, al quale ho espresso le mie congratulazioni per la riuscita della Presidenza di turno semestrale del Consiglio dell’Unione europea.
Al centro dell’incontro l’impegno comune a promuovere ulteriormente… pic.twitter.com/JFCiTp0LjN
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) December 4, 2024
The two prime ministers reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen the Hungarian-Italian bilateral partnership. On trade relations, they noted with satisfaction that the value of trade reached €14 billion in 2023. They discussed that there is room for further progress in investment and trade, especially in infrastructure and energy.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss the problem of illegal migration.
The two leaders called for stronger cooperation with countries of origin and transit. The importance of combating human trafficking was also stressed, underlining that preventing illegal migrants from leaving their country of origin saves lives.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday evening following the meeting, they called for an updated “legislative framework” to facilitate, increase, and accelerate returns of the illegal migrants from the European Union, with particular attention to the definition of so-called safe countries of origin. They agreed on the need to find new ways to prevent and tackle illegal immigration while respecting EU and international law, as launched by the agreement between Italy and Albania.
Giorgia Meloni congratulated Viktor Orbán on the “success” of the Hungarian EU Presidency.
Among the successes, the Italian Prime Minister highlighted the Budapest Declaration on the New European Competitiveness Deal, adopted by EU leaders on November 8. She also cited the opening of the first chapters of EU accession negotiations with Albania and the enlargement of the Schengen area to include Romania and Bulgaria as merits of the Hungarian presidency.
The two heads of government agreed to continue to support NATO and EU initiatives aimed at stabilizing the Western Balkans and to stand firmly for the integration of the countries of the region.
Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda/Benko Vivien Cher