“Slovenian-Hungarian cooperation is entering a new dimension via the joint Slovenian session of the two cabinets, during which six agreements that further strengthen ties between the two countries are to be signed”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó declared on Friday.
Mr. Szijjártó spoke to Hungarian news agency MTI by telephone from Ljubljana following a meeting with his Slovenian counterpart Karl Erjavec.
An agreement will be reached on the interconnection of the two countries’ natural gas pipelines, which will create a joint system with a capacity of 1.3 billion cubic metres and improve energy security for both countries, and on the connection of our electricity systems, which will contribute to the establishment of an integrated electricity network in Central Europe, he told the press.
In 2018, the M70 highway will be expanded into a dual carriageway, meaning Budapest and Ljubljana will be connected by an uninterrupted stretch of motorway. Additionally, the Budapest-Ljubljana railway line will be fully electrified from the first half of this year. Furthermore, 6 new border crossing stations – three for road and three for bicycle traffic – will be established by 2020, the Minister continued.
Also under discussion was the possibility of Hungarian enterprises playing an important role in the development of the Port of Koper and connecting roads in view of the fact that Koper is the Slovenian harbour most often used by Hungarian companies, he added.
“In addition, today we will be opening the Hungarian Consulate General in Lendava and the Hungarian Cultural Institute in Ljubljana”, Mr. Szijjártó announced.
The Foreign Minister also stressed that in the interests of further enhancing economic and trade relations between the two countries, 138 Hungarian enterprises are taking part in a Hungarian-Slovenian business forum later on Friday. This goal is further served by the fact that Eximbank has opened a 370 million euro credit line for the development of cooperation between Hungarian and Slovenian enterprises.
According to Mr. Szijjártó, trade between the countries increased to a high of 1.7 billion euros by the end of last October (the latest available data), an increase of five percent compared to the previous year.
The migration crisis was also a subject of discussion at the joint cabinet meeting, Mr. Szijjártó told the press.
“Perhaps by now everyone in Europe has realised that we are defenceless unless our external borders are suitably protected. Unfortunately, however, words have very rarely been followed by deeds. Very few countries have actually succeeded in protecting their external borders. Hungary is one such country.
And in addition to protecting ourselves, we are also helping to protect others, because for instance the Hungarian contingent of over 50 police officers is the largest number of foreign police officers working to help their Slovenian colleagues on the border. We are also present with a further 30 police officers in Macedonia and are helping to protect its joint border with Greece”, the Hungarian Foreign Minister said.
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade)
