“Austria and its eastern neighbours held discussions on several occasions during the coronavirus epidemic, and the negotiations were successful and facilitated healthcare protection”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó declared on Tuesday in Budapest after receiving his Austrian, Czech, Slovakian and Slovenian counterparts.

At a press conference following a meeting of the so-called Vienna Five, Mr. Szijjártó said: “Hungary realises 34.5 billion euros in trade flow with the other four states. This represents one sixth of Hungary’s total trade flow”. “Central Europe protected itself successfully during the coronavirus epidemic, and in view of this we have decided to maintain cooperation between the Vienna Five. This is particularly important at a time when infection figures are getting increasingly worse in many countries in our vicinity”, the Hungarian minister added.

Mr. Szijjártó called for the equitable distribution of European Union funding during the upcoming seven-year multiannual financial framework. “It is unacceptable for countries that have handled the coronavirus epidemic irresponsibly and gone into debt, and for richer countries, to receive more”, he declared. The Minister said it is impermissible for Hungary to be “cheated out of” EU funding on a subjective basis. “Hungary has fulfilled the commitments for which these monies are due; the distribution must be objective”, he stated. “The goal of economic protection is clearly to protect workplaces, and to create at least as many as have been lost. This must not be simply a Hungarian aspiration, but one for the whole European Union”, Mr. Szijjártó declared.

Austrian Federal Minister of Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs Alexander Schallenberg also highlighted the importance of talks between the Vienna Five. “We will be meeting in Slovenia in September, which will set a tradition”, he said. He pointed out that the group is also known as the Central Five. “The coronavirus epidemic is not over yet, and in fact it hasn’t even reached its peak”, Mr. Schallenberg warned, adding: “We must be careful that the smouldering pockets do not turn into a big bush fire”. The Austrian minister also highlighted the fact that an equitable distribution of European Union funding must be realised, and the ratio of loans must be maintained at a suitable level. “There is no need for a European institutional crisis to superimpose itself on top of the coronavirus pandemic”, he stated.
Czech Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček said that following several virtual meetings, the ministers first met in this form in Vienna a month ago. “The primary goal of Tuesday’s meeting was to discuss the economic effects of the epidemic. The coronavirus has not disappeared; we must learn to live with it”, Tomáš Petříček declared.

Slovakian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Ivan Korčok said the region must be protected, and people must be made aware of just how beautiful this place is. He pointed out that as a result of the coronavirus epidemic “it has transpired that what we thought was eternal is in fact not”. As an example, he mentioned the freedom to travel. “During this same period, it has also become clear to what extent dialogue is vital”, he added. Ivan Korčok also drew attention to the fact that the number of infected patients is continuously increasing in certain countries. “Until there is a vaccine available, responsible behaviour is the best vaccine”, the Slovakian minister said.

Slovenian Foreign Minister Anže Logar spoke about the fact that the global pandemic has led the Vienna Five into a new dimension. “The main topic of discussion at Tuesday’s meeting was the financial effects of the coronavirus”, he confirmed, adding that he feels among friends.
In reply to a question, Mr. Szijjártó said the category in which individual states are being placed with relation to travel will be reviewed at every week at Wednesday’s Cabinet meetings. “The categorisation is in all instances driven by domestic security and healthcare aspects; diplomacy is playing no role in this whatsoever”, he declared. “The goal is to prevent the coronavirus from being brought into Hungary again, because the government would not like to have to reintroduce any restrictions”, the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade said.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade/MTI)