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Hungary believes that the European Union should support U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace initiative to end the Russia-Ukraine war, said János Bóka, Minister for European Union Affairs, on Tuesday in Budapest, after meeting with his Austrian counterpart, Claudia Plakolm.
Bóka emphasized that an immediate ceasefire and meaningful peace talks are necessary to end the war as soon as possible. Currently, there is only one credible peace initiative, namely that of U.S. President Donald Trump, and Hungary believes the EU should support and promote it, rather than hinder it.
The minister also informed his Austrian colleague that at the government’s initiative, Hungary will hold a referendum on Ukraine’s potential EU membership.
The vote will allow for an open and honest debate about the pros and cons of Ukraine’s membership.
The result will be decisive for the Hungarian government, Bóka added. The minister said that he and Claudia Plakolm agreed on the importance of more effective protection of the EU’s external borders and discussed how new, innovative solutions could make the EU’s migration and refugee policy more effective.
Regarding this issue, János Bóka noted that Hungary believes the EU institutions are applying a double standard towards Hungarians, as the country is being fined one million euros daily instead of receiving support for its effective border protection efforts. They also discussed the upcoming seven-year EU budget, the European integration perspective for the Western Balkans, improvement of the EU’s competitiveness, and how to combat growing European anti-Semitism.
Plakolm mentioned that Hungary and Austria are connected not only by a shared cultural and living space, but also by strong economic ties and deep friendship, which endures even when they disagree on certain matters. She cited differing opinions on the asylum and migration pact, stating that
for Austria, this was an important step, as the country has long advocated for a rethinking of immigration policy at the European level, acknowledging the challenges, including those Austria faces.
“From our point of view, migration remains one of the big issues that the EU needs to address. And we agree that there should be no more illegal migration into the European Union,” she emphasized. She also stated that Austria clearly supports the integration of the six Western Balkan countries into the EU.
In response to a journalist’s question about Benjamin Netanyahu‘s visit to Hungary, Bóka confirmed that the Israeli Prime Minister is expected to arrive on Wednesday at the invitation of the Hungarian Prime Minister. He stressed that Hungary and Israel have a strategic partnership based on common geopolitical considerations, interests, and deep historical and cultural ties. The aim of the visit and invitation is to explore how this strategic partnership can be strengthened and developed in the future.
Plakolm also stated that Austria’s position remains unchanged and that it finds the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant for the Israeli Prime Minister incomprehensible. She added that the ICC has harmed its own credibility with this move.
Via MTI; Featured picture: MTI/Balogh Zoltán