Budapest, 4 June 2015

Good Day Ladies and Gentlemen,

I also welcome viewers of Hungarian public television. Today Hungary is the venue for an important diplomatic event, as the European People’s Party group in the European Parliament is meeting here. The European People's Party is Europe’s strongest political organisation and strongest political community. I am also honoured to welcome Mr. Weber, leader of this community. There is no Europe, European politics or European Union without the European People's Party. It has been one of the driving forces in European politics over the past decades, and it still is today. We are the largest group in the European Parliament, and if my understanding of Europe’s political landscape is accurate, we will remain so in the years ahead. This is why it is in Hungary’s best national interest to work for the best possible cooperation with the European People's Party and its group in the European Parliament. We have been a member of this community for several years, shaping European politics together with our distinguished partners. We welcome this meeting of the European People's Party convened in Budapest. Your visit is an honour for us, and I especially wish to thank Mr. Chairman for today's discussions. Nowadays it is difficult to discuss European matters – namely economic issues, economic growth or unemployment. The meeting focused on fair taxation and also, naturally, the issue of immigration. The Hungarian proposal that the death penalty also needs to be raised has been discussed on numerous occasions in the European Union recently. I reassured the President that Hungary has no intention of introducing any legislation in any areas that conflict with the statutes and founding treaties of the European Union.

I wish everyone success and fruitful discussions at the European People's Party meeting here today in Budapest. Welcome Mr. Chairman!

(Prime Minister's Office)