The Minister emphasised at the press conference that Hungary handled Fruzsina Wilhelm’s case as a human issue, but a financial solution had to be found because Swedish authorities considered it as a financial problem.

He recalled that the Swedish authorities had made it clear: they are unable to accept any solution that would impose a financial burden on their country.

The first suggestion of the Ministry was to offer Sweden the sum the Hungarian authorities are supposed to provide for Fruzsina Wilhelm pursuant to the applicable legislation, he explained. The young woman would have received a monthly orphanage allowance of about HUF 47 000 in Hungary, but this amount fails to reach the monthly gross income threshold of HUF 223 000 which the Swedish authorities consider necessary for a sustainable living in Sweden, he explained.

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Péter Szijjártó declared that the only solution that could be taken into consideration was Fruzsina Wilhelm finding a declared job in Sweden, provided that someone employs her. The aunt of the young woman has a small business that manufactures plastic products, so the company’s employing Fruzsina Wilhelm seemed to be the best solution. In order to do that, however, the company had to generate more income and needed more orders. Therefore, they needed to look for potential customers. Two companies were found that can generate an additional annual revenue of EUR 15,000 for the business, making it possible for Fruzsina Wilhelm to work for the company, he explained.

The Minister also mentioned that Fruzsina Wilhelm must return to Hungary to complete certain administrative procedures, and it is only then that she can go back to Sweden.

Péter Szijjártó declared: Hungary will not abandon any citizen, and had they been unable to find a solution in Sweden, then of course Fruzsina Wilhelm would have been taken care of in Hungary, but the best solution is to be around family, which is better than any institutional care.

A question was raised at the press conference about another issue: a former instruction given by the Prime Minister. The Minister explained in his reply that it was ordered by the Prime Minister to examine what kind of resources the ministries and their background institutions have at financial service providers and brokerage firms, and to take steps to withdraw them. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has no such resources, and the assets formerly deposited at a financial service provider belonged to a company owned by the Ministry, not to the Ministry itself, he said. Péter Szijjártó also explained that he met Csaba Tarsoly three-four times a year, and only once this year.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade)