Swedish people, too, agree that migration is the most important European issue, the Minister of State for International Communication and Relations at the Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister told the Hungarian news agency MTI rendering an account of his visit to Stockholm on Tuesday.

In the Swedish capital Zoltán Kovács met members of the Swedish Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and European Union Affairs Committee as well as journalists, and delivered a lecture at Stockholm University.

The Minister of State highlighted that for years he has been visiting European capitals in order to provide first-hand information regarding what the Hungarian government does and why for journalists, politicians and university students who are genuinely interested in the actual facts.

What prompted his visit to Stockholm now was that in recent months Swedish politicians and journalists had levelled particularly intense criticisms at Hungary, he explained.

He said the government which initiated most of the criticism did not show much interest in meeting him. However, he had “a very productive meeting” with members of the Swedish Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and European Union Affairs Committee.

The Minister of State highlighted that “while we do not agree on everything,” it is clear that Hungary and its governing party Fidesz – similar to parties in Sweden – have the right to their own opinion on the most crucial European issues. They agreed that a normal dialogue in which each party pays attention to the other’s position helps to create better understanding, he said.

Mr Kovács stressed that Members of the Swedish Parliament, journalists and also university students agreed that “migration is the key and most important European issue of our time,” and they further agreed that through our respective approaches to migration “we may also better understand the perception of European politics”.

He observed that many, including some Swedish politicians, denied that migration was the most important challenge that Europe was compelled to face today. It has been ascertained, however, that the Swedish people themselves believe that this is the key issue of our time and will be the most important element of the European parliamentary elections.

The Minister of State further told MTI that during his visit he also outlined Hungary’s positions regarding family policy, social institutions and European politics.

(MTI)