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Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga traveled to three EU countries to discuss Hungary’s stance on the EU sanctions, the war in Ukraine, and the rule of law debate with the European Commission.
Hungary wants to show its European partners that it has been negotiating in a constructive manner with the European Commission during the summer break with regard to boosting the transparency of public procurements, Justice Minister Judit Varga told Hungarian news agency MTI after her talks in Paris on Thursday.
“The Hungarian government is ready to provide guarantees to ensure that the Hungarian people receive the funds they are entitled to,” the Minister stressed. “We have done everything the EU has asked, so we await a positive evaluation,” she added.
“It is crucial that Hungary’s partners get a better understanding of the country’s stance on the rule-of-law procedures, the war in Ukraine, and the energy sanctions imposed on Russia,” she said.
Varga held talks with Laurence Boone, Secretary of State for European affairs, and President Macron’s advisor for European affairs, Garance Pineau.
After Paris, Varga headed to Madrid, where she met Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares. “Our position on energy sanctions has not changed for a long time. We do not want to support measures that hurt us more than on whom they are imposed,” she stressed. “Nevertheless we remain open to any solution that can reduce the negative effects of the global recession,” the Minister added.
Varga also attended a working dinner with Pascual Navarro, Secretary of State for the European Union, Salvador Rueda Rabanal, Deputy Secretary of State, and Gerardo Fernández-Gavilanes Díez, Director General. “It is time to start working more closely together, as the Spanish-Belgian-Hungarian EU Presidency trio is less than a year away,” she noted.
The Minister continued her tour in Lisbon, where she met Minister for European Affairs Tiago Antunes, and David Oppenheimer, the Portuguese Prime Minister’s advisor.
Featured photo via Facebook/Varga Judit