Hungarian foreign affairs minister says Hungary provides Moldova with every support to be able to join EU as quickly as possible

Chisinau, 6 September /MOLDPRES/ - The European Union’s enlargement brings that very enthusiasm which might make the enlargement even stronger in the long run. Thus, we provide Moldova with every support, in order to be able to join EU as quickly as possible. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Péter Szijjártó has made statements to this effect at a joint news conference with Deputy PM, Foreign Affairs Minister Mihai Popsoi in Chisinau.   

Péter Szijjártó stressed that the process of accession was a quite complex one. ‘’We provide Moldova with every support, in order to be able to join EU as quickly as possible. Thus, 50 civil servants due to have a key role in the accession process will participate in training courses in Hungary. Also, we provide every support in the screening process, so that the latter is carried out as quickly as possible and we can start the real negotiations for accession through opening the chapters,’’ the official said.  

The Hungarian foreign affairs minister noted that the bilateral cooperation had been discussed during the today’s visit.

„In 2020, we concluded an Agreement on Strategic Partnership. Since then, this partnership has yielded tangible results. In the last ten years, the trade exchange has increased 2.5-fold. The most important bank of the country – OTP – is market leader in Moldova. The institution has already 1,000 employees who work at 54 branches. Till the end of this year, the commercial bank will invest 30 million euros in projects, which will enhance the level of services for Moldova’s citizens. At the same time, the air company Wizz Air makes flights to and from Moldova. It is encouraged to increase the number of its destinations. Also, we provide 40 scholarships for students from Moldova at universities from my country,’’  Péter Szijjártó said.     

For his part, Deputy PM, Foreign Affairs Minister Mihai Popsoi appreciated Hungary’s effort in the process of accession to EU.

„The today’s visit repeatedly highlights our firm commitment to the strategic partnership between the two countries and our wish to develop mutually advantageous relations. The bilateral dialogue witnessed an ascendant dynamic, which opens new perspectives in our cooperation. We are expecting with much interest the visit by Mr. Hungarian Speaker László Kövér, who is to come to Moldova in late September. This visit will consolidate the dynamic of the parliamentary relations. We also appreciate the full and unconditional support of Hungary when it comes to our country’s European integration path. We rely on Hungary’s support during the Presidency at the European Union’s Council, in the process of advancement on the European integration way. Concrete steps are taken to implement the action plan on the exchange of knowledge in the process of accession to EU, which we signed on 22 March, during my visit to Budapest. Thus, I am happy to inform that, in this context, at least three training visits of civil servants from the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry, Customs Service and local public administration, including mayors, will be organized till the end of this year, for which I am grateful to you,’’ Mihai Popsoi said.         

The deputy PM also said that the economic relations between the two countries recorded a positive dynamic. ‘’In 2023, Hungary was on the 12th position among Moldova’s commercial partners and the volume of bilateral trade exceeded 227 million dollars. In the first five months of this year, this sum reached 90 million dollars. We work to increase the commercial exchanges and attract new investments of companies from Hungary in Moldova,’’ Mihai Popsoi noted.  

The official also said that Moldova backed the efforts as to the strengthening the international and national resilience before the hybrid threats. ‘’Within the cooperation in the security and defence sector,  we are interested in maintaining and developing the bilateral cooperation between our states, as well as the international organizations, in order to strengthen the national resilience and enhance the capacities of response to and management of crises. The maintaining of the stability and peace in our region is quite important. Thus, we thank Hungary for the support provided, including within international peacekeeping programmes,’’ Mihai Popsoi said.  

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Péter Szijjártó pays a working visit to Moldova, at an invitation by Deputy PM Mihai Popsoi.

Péter Szijjártó also had a meeting with President Maia Sandu and is to meet Deputy PM, Economic Development and Digitalization Minister Dumitru Alaiba.

Moldova and Hungary established diplomatic relations on 16 January 1992. Forty four companies with Hungarian capital work in Moldova and the volume of investments in the registered share capital is of about 20.939 million lei.