Balázs Molnár, Deputy State Secretary for EU Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office received Leigh Sarty, Director General of the European Affairs Bureau of the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development on 16 November 2017. The Deputy State Secretary informed his partner about the most important challenges the European Union is facing and the Hungarian views regarding those challenges.

Mr Molnár pointed out in the context of the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union that while we find the decision of the British people regrettable, we respect their choice at the same time. Hungary is making every effort to ensure that the negotiations seeking to determine the conditions of Britain’s departure and the future framework of relations between the EU and the United Kingdom yield results which are fair for both parties. It is a mutual interest that political and economic cooperation between the parties should remain as close as possible also after Brexit. The European Council will review the results of the negotiations achieved so far at its meeting to be held in December, and will provide guidelines for the continuation of talks.

The Deputy State Secretary highlighted regarding the discussions concerning the future of the European Union that Hungary, together with the rest of the countries of the V4 Group, regards the preservation of the results achieved by the EU to date and of the Acquis Communautaire as a starting point. We have a vested interest in building a strong Europe which relies on strong Member States and concentrates on areas during the course of developing integration where common regulation and action can yield the greatest added value, such as the securing of the external borders, digitisation and the reinforcement of the EU’s defence capabilities.

Leigh Sarty indicated that relations maintained with the EU are especially important for Canada. This is testified to by the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the provisional application of which began on 21 September. He expressed hope that the agreement will be ratified by the legislatures of EU Member States in a timely manner. There was agreement between the parties that the expected positive practical experiences of the implementation of CETA and the fullest possible exploitation of the ensuing more favourable trade conditions will provide a good basis for this.

(Prime Minister's Office)