It is unacceptable to not speak about the security aspects of migration in light of the fact that people coming from a migrant background have committed 29 acts of terrorism in Europe in the past three years, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó pointed out in Brussels on Tuesday, after the meeting of the foreign ministers and representatives in charge of trade and development affairs of the Member States of the European Union.
In his statement made in the presence of Hungarian journalists, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the text of the Cotonou Agreement – which was concluded twenty years ago and which the parties are planning to renegotiate – contains a chapter on migration which is entirely unacceptable for Hungary as the European Union is seeking to legitimise its pro-migration policy in yet another international treaty.
Hungary is only willing to provide a mandate for the commencement of new negotiations on the basis of the guidelines presented by the European Commission if the chapter in question addresses the issue of migration as a security challenge, Mr Szijjártó pointed out. He said the text reflects the EU position that immigration is a positive phenomenon which must be managed and encouraged, and it must as such be treated as a top priority because it contributes to the development of the world. Hungary does not agree with this view, similar to the position outlined earlier which asserts that European and African interests are inextricably intertwined on the issue of immigration.
He highlighted that the question of whether a member state identifies migration as a response to its own economic and social policy challenges or not must be referred to national competence. Hungary does not share the view that migration is the correct answer to its labour market or demographic challenges. This cannot be made an international or EU obligation, he pointed out. In the context of the results achieved at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, Mr Szijjártó said Hungary has a vested interest in ensuring that trade disputes emerging on a global level should not under any circumstances escalate into a trade war, but should instead be closed with mutual agreements within the shortest possible time. He said Hungary’s exports to GDP are almost 90 per cent, Hungarian exports rose to above EUR 100 billion last year, and the volume of foreign capital per capita exceeds EUR 8,500.
Therefore the trade tensions which have recently developed among some major players of world trade are of the utmost significance for Hungary. Every measure that may constitute an obstacle on the path of global free trade is disadvantageous for Hungary, the Minister underlined. He pointed out that Hungary believes that the European Union should conclude as many free trade agreements as possible.
He therefore takes the view that it is a positive development that the Foreign Affairs Council has granted the European Commission authorisation to engage in free trade talks with Australia and New Zealand. This is important for Hungary because it exports goods worth more than EUR 500 million to the aforementioned two countries, and the automotive industry accounts for some one half of these exports, he highlighted. Hungary expects the European Commission to treat agricultural sensibilities, too, as a top priority during the talks, he stressed. The Minister said it is further good news from the respect of Hungarian agriculture and the Hungarian automotive industry that the Council has granted the European Commission permission to sign free trade agreements with Japan and Singapore.
He highlighted that under the agreements customs duties levied on wine will be abolished, customs tariffs on beef will be reduced radically, and the exportation of pork, too, will come under more favourable treatment. He added at the same time that the speed of free trade negotiations must be accelerated to enable the entry into force of mutually advantageous agreements within the shortest possible time.
(MTI)
