“According to the Government’s proposal, the European Union’s five-year strategic schedule must include the preservation of member states’ spheres of competence with relation to migration, respect for sovereignty and the protection of Christian culture”, State Secretary for International Communication and Relations Zoltán Kovács said at a press conference in Budapest on Thursday.

“At the European Parliament (EP) elections, the Hungarians gave the Government an obligated mandate with relation to three fundamental issues: stopping illegal immigration, national sovereignty and the protection of Christian values”, Mr. Kovács said.

“In accordance with this mandate, according to the Hungarian proposal the text of the strategic document must include the fact that the EU must assure the preservation of national spheres of competence with relation to handling migration” the State Secretary said, stressing: “The goal of the Hungarian proposal is to stop migration, in the interests of which the EU must also cooperate with the administrations of neighbouring countries”.

With relation to the principle of cooperation between European states, he said: “A strong EU can be built via strong member states, and accordingly the European Union’s system of institutions must respect the sovereignty of European nations”. “This is particularly true within the field of economic policy; the room for manoeuvre of member states with relation to economic policy must be preserved”, he added.

“In addition, at the EP elections the people of Hungary also gave the government a firm mandate with relation to protecting Christian culture”, Mr. Kovács continued. “Christianity represents the foundations of European culture, and accordingly the EU’s strategic document must include the fundamental value of European culture and the protection of Christianity”, he stated, highlighting that particular attention must be paid to persecuted Christians.

“It will be on the basis of these fundamental principles that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will be representing the interests of the Hungarian people in the European Council”, he said.

In reply to a question concerning the fact that Lőrinc Mészáros’s company can expect to realise 300 billion forints in turnover with relation to the modernisation of the Budapest-Belgrade railway line, Mr Kovács said: “The result was announced following a public procurement procedure that conformed to European regulations, and those Hungarian enterprises that have acquired an opportunity are not receiving turnover, but have won the right to perform a job, which they must complete to a suitable standard”.

In reply to a question concerning the fact that the proposal by the LMP party on increasing the nursing fee for families taking care of disabled relatives was voted down in Parliament, the State Secretary replied: “When the National Assembly decided on raising the fee last year, the opposition made a ruckus in Parliament and did not vote in favour of the motion”.

(MTI)