EU Colleagues Compliment Hungary FM, Here is Why

Speaking after the meeting of the Council of EU Foreign Ministers, FM Peter Szijjarto underlined that the EU's economic policy is currently characterized by failure and a lack of success. At the press conference, Hungary's foreign minister touched on the main topics of the meeting, including sanctions against Russia, the possibilities of cooperation with China and the Israel-Hamas conflict. In response to a question from our newspaper, he also explained why he gets compliments from his colleagues during recess between the meetings.

Brüsszel, 2023. november 27. Szijjártó Péter külgazdasági és külügyminiszter és Xiana Méndez Bértolo kereskedelemért felelõs spanyol államtitkár beszélget az Európai Unió Külügyek Tanácsának kereskedelmi formációjú ülése kezdetén a brüsszeli Európa-épületben 2023. november 27-én. Az EU-tagállamok kereskedelmi miniszterei a Kereskedelmi Világszervezet (WTO) 13. miniszteri szintû konferenciáját készítik elõ, amelyet a tervek szerint február 26. és 29. között rendeznek Abu-Dzabiban. MTI/EPA/Olivier Hoslet Fotó: Olivier Hoslet

Following an EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting on foreign economic affairs, Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto held a press briefing in Brussels. He remarked that the meeting occurred at a time when Europe's economy and competitiveness are at their worst. Unfortunately, the EU's economic policy today is characterized by failure and a lack of success," he underlined.

In contrast, the Hungarian model, which has resulted in record investment of more than €13 billion coming to Hungary, reflects the right approach to foreign policy and foreign trade, Mr Szijjarto added. He underlined that the evasion of sanctions is large-scale and leads to complications, meaning that

the sanctions do not work. He said Brussels' sanctions policy has failed, it does more harm than good and benefits.

However, people tend to draw different conclusions from this failure, the minister stressed. Those who take a rational approach, including the Hungarian government's position, conclude that the sanctions make no sense, while the other bloc believes in further intensifying the previous measures.  

Also, there is no meaningful assessment of the impact of the sanctions, Mr Szijjarto told the press briefing. 

At the same time, he also criticized the lack of solidarity, referring to EU proposals - whether nuclear or other energy sanctions - that would threaten the energy supply of several member states. 

With regard to the nuclear industry, he also pointed out that while Europe was imposing sanctions, the US was buying record amounts of uranium from Russia. 

He also stressed that there have been proposals from member states that would make Hungary's oil supply completely impossible. "I wonder who in Brussels would like to stand before Hungarian citizens and explain that they are sorry, but they cannot guarantee a secure oil supply."

Speaking about the upcoming meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Hungary's foreign minister took a broader approach to economic trends. He said that instead of creating blocks, we should focus on promoting East-West cooperation. Moreover, he said, cooperation with the East in sectors forming the backbone of the European Union is already significant, so by breaking these up, Europe would shoot itself in the foot yet again. He said:

Let the companies work at their own pace.

In response to questions from the press, Mr Szijjarto emphasized  that even European leaders are not yet able to see the need to come up with a "Plan B" for military and financial assistance to Ukraine, because "Plan A", which was to provide the country with a high level of assistance that would lead to military success, has failed. FM Szijjarto described recently surfaced reports that a peace agreement was in the pipeline as early as last March, but it suddenly failed, as interesting, because news reports about a potentially positive outcome were indeed cut off rather abruptly. 

On the issue of cooperation with China, he confirmed that he did not see it as a risk, but rather something that serves Hungary's interests.  

In connection with the recent Bulgarian scandal, he said the question of where they procure their gas was a sovereign decision for each member state, but they cannot jeopardize the energy supply of other countries. In a previous case, where Italy would have acted in a similar way, the European Court of Justice struck down Rome's efforts.

Regarding the Hungarian hostages, he said Hungary welcomed the ceasefire, because it may have saved lives. He stressed that authorities have been in constant contact with Qatar's minister of state who pledged his unwavering support throughout, for which he thanked the Qatari government. FM Szijarto said he has knowledge of two Hungarian nationals, about whom they have no information at this point. Subsequently, whether of not they have been taken captive remains unknown. 

We asked Hungary's foreign minister whether his favorite topic, sneakers, has ever come up during recess between the meetings.

I do receive occasional compliments! Unfortunately, I haven't been able to show them my sneakers in person, as I think that would be a tad too much.

In his Facebook posts prior to the press briefing, FM Szijjarto foreshadowed the anticipated mood, saying that they were "in for another collision" today, in Brussels. 

Cover photo: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto and Spanish Secretary of State for Trade Xiana Mendez Bertolo hold talks at the beginning of a trade formation meeting of the Council of Foreign Affairs of the EU in the Europe building in Brussels, on November 27, 2023 (Photo: MTI/EPA/Olivier Hoslet)