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Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden arrived in Budapest on Thursday at the invitation of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to mark the centenary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Ahead of the visit, Világgazdaság recalled that Luxembourg’s prime minister has been saying for some time that he would like to settle differences between Hungary and Brussels and bridge the differences between the member states. Luc Frieden has previously said that
he does not believe Hungary is anti-EU, in fact it is “more pro-European than we sometimes think and I think we should try to support different views so that we can achieve a common goal,”
he told Politico earlier this year.
Mr. Frieden believes that the estrangement between the Hungarian government and EU member states is not only the Hungarian prime minister’s fault. As he said at the time, he is sometimes shocked how little effort countries make to understand what the other side thinks.
Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, the Hungarian prime minister said that he and Luc Frieden had reviewed the state of the EU, agreeing with the Draghi report‘s diagnosis that European competitiveness was in serious decline. Mr. Orbán presented the plan for a competitiveness pact drawn up by the Hungarian EU presidency, which he wants to discuss and agree with all EU countries in November.
I had an excellent meeting today with Prime Minister @LucFrieden in Budapest. Competitiveness is one of the key areas where we would like to make progress during the EU presidency. We discussed ways to cooperate to reach our goals. #HU24EU pic.twitter.com/cligTrVuRK
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) September 12, 2024
Luc Frieden said that Hungary not only has long diplomatic relations with the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, but is also the rotating president of the Council of the European Union, and that his visit to Budapest was also an argument for continuing the dialogue.
He confirmed that he agreed with the Hungarian Presidency’s position that Europe’s competitiveness must be put first.
Viktor Orbán said that Africa was also discussed in the context of migration and competitiveness, and his Luxembourg counterpart shared his view on the need to develop a common EU plan for Africa. Mr. Frieden spoke of migration as a complex problem, for which he said there were no simple solutions for all countries. He added that Luxembourg was in favor of the asylum and migration pact, but that further steps were needed to ensure harmonious coexistence in society.
In Budapest today. Discussed priorities for the EU presidency.
Had a frank exchange with @PM_ViktorOrban on the challenges facing Europe. pic.twitter.com/ANPLGwqukg
— Luc Frieden (@LucFrieden) September 12, 2024
Earlier on Thursday, the Hungarian prime minister also received Milorad Dodik, the President of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Budapest.
The meeting focused on the integration of the Western Balkans into the EU and how Hungary, as the country holding the rotating presidency of the Council, can help to advance the process,
Bertalan Havasi, the Prime Minister’s press chief, informed MTI.
The stability of the Western Balkans is essential for the European Union. Instead of lecturing and sanctions, we believe in dialogue and cooperation. My meeting with President @MiloradDodik today served this purpose. pic.twitter.com/6buuj7naLn
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) September 12, 2024
Via MTI, Világgazdaság, Politico; Featured image: MTI/Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda/Benko Vivien Cher