Britain’s exit is a political and economic loss to the EU, and the task in hand is to minimise the damage that arises from that loss, Szabolcs Takács, Minister of State for EU Affairs said on Friday in Budapest.

At the roundtable discussion organised in Europe Point under the title „Brexit and post-Brexit. The future of the European Union”, the Minister of State stressed that it is a common interest of Britain and the EU to put the minds of EU nationals living in Britain and Brits living in EU Member States at rest. It is further a common interest to forge the closest possible cooperation in the economy and in trade, as well as in defence and security policy, he pointed out.

Mr Takács argued: while the agreement that will be reached regarding Brexit in the coming months is important and will fundamentally determine the future, there is a parallel debate regarding the future of the European integration, and the legal and political framework within which the Member States will carry on. This question cannot be entirely separated from Brexit as the British referendum was „the last straw” that induced the leaders of the EU Member States and institutions to start a „process of self-reflection”. This is about what „went wrong”, what needs to be changed and what needs to be preserved, he explained. The weight and responsibility of these questions impose such an enormous burden on governments which warrants that all debates should be conducted fundamentally on the basis of the guidelines of the European Council.

The Minister of State highlighted: according to the position of the Hungarian Government, those achievements should be preserved under any circumstances which created the integration itself, which made the EU „one of the world’s success stories” for decades, and on account of which most Member States decided to join. He took the view that one of these achievements is the single internal market, and it is also necessary to lay down that free movement and the viability of the Schengen regime must be maintained without compromises. We must also preserve the policies which made the integration successful, such as the cohesion policy and the enlargement policy, he added. Mr Takács stated: the Hungarian Government wants a Europe which is able to respond to challenges effectively.

British Ambassador to Budapest Iain Lindsay highlighted: Britain wants to reinforce its bilateral relations with EU Member States, including Hungary. The Hungarian and British Governments are committed to entering into even closer cooperation, he stated. The diplomat reiterated at the event organised by the European Parliament’s Information Office for Hungary: the British Government has released a number of documents regarding its concepts related to Brexit, including its vision of future relations with the European Union. He believes that both parties are committed to cooperation in the interest of an agreement which is equally satisfactory for the citizens of the EU and British nationals.

The Ambassador said: a great many Hungarians, too, are living in Britain, they are obviously anxious about what is going to happen once the country leaves the EU. Britain sees it as an important goal to put people’s minds at ease, he said. He added: additionally, Britain reassures EU Member States that it will honour its financial obligations. Mr Lindsay highlighted: rather than applying an already existing model regarding relations to be developed with the EU, they wish to create a new model which is satisfactory for everyone and is advantageous for all parties concerned. Britain will be an important partner of the EU, and the country is committed to cooperation, he said.

At the conference which was also attended by several members of the diplomatic corps, Member of the European Parliament for Fidesz György Schöpflin said that a precarious balance had recently evolved in Britain which was upset by the referendum on Brexit. Globalisation has significantly changed the world, and the referendum also brought to light that major inequalities had developed. However, this is the case not only in Britain, but in actual fact in every country, he said.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister/MTI)