Slovenia
Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó held talks with Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister Matej Arcon and Minister for Cohesion and Regional Development Aleksander Jevsek, and emphasized that Hungary and Slovenia are linked in various ways, as both countries are members of the same economic and security integration, and bilateral cooperation is more effective than ever, as evidenced by last year’s trade record.
He highlighted that the two countries also contribute to each other’s physical and energy security, which includes Hungary providing air defense for Slovenia and the recent connection of their electricity supply networks.
“All in all, the strongest link and the greatest common resource between the two countries is the Slovenian community living in Hungary and the Hungarian community living in Slovenia,” he said.
The cooperation between Hungary and Slovenia is a clear sign and proof that the EU can only be truly strong if it does not disregard the rights of national communities and does not hinder, but rather facilitates, cross-border cooperation,”
Péter Szijjártó pointed out.
“Slovenia and Hungary have jointly demonstrated how much good can come from respecting the rights of national communities, from helping these communities preserve their identity, also to maintain ties with their mother country, and how much good comes from implementing economic development programs in the areas where they live,” he continued.
FM Péter Szijjártó described the cooperation in the field of protecting national minorities as exemplary at the European level.
“Today we signed an agreement that the Hungarian and Slovenian governments will each provide another one million euros for the development of border areas. “The countries’ joint European Territorial Cooperation association will also issue a call for proposals to support these projects,” he announced.
He then pointed out that when they last agreed on the creation of joint border development funds, they were able to accomplish great things, such as the youth center in Hodos, the library in Lendava, and the renovation of the Filo Mill.
Therefore, this agreement we signed today will enable further joint developments in the border areas, and these developments will further strengthen our national communities, helping them to preserve their identity and culture, and I believe that this will further strengthen both countries,”
he concluded.
“I can only hope that all countries in Central and Eastern Europe will follow the example of Slovenia and Hungary in terms of how we respect the rights of each other’s national minority communities,” he added.
Via MTI; Featured photo: Facebook/Szijjártó Péter
The post Hungary and Slovenia Each Contribute €1 Million to Develop Border Regions appeared first on Hungary Today.
