Hungary continues to support Romania's entry into the Schengen area

RADIO ROMANIA NEWS (October 11, 16:07) - "Radiojournal" - Producer: Cristina Grecu - Reporter: Ioan Suciu.

Producer: President Klaus Iohannis stated today, in Budapest, that in discussions with his Hungarian counterpart, Katalin Novak, he expressed the full readiness of the Romanian authorities to act in order to strengthen dialogue and bilateral cooperation, saying that it is absolutely necessary to avoid unilateral or controversial gestures. For her part, Katalin Novak assured that her country supports Romania's accession to Schengen, and if this does not happen by next summer, Hungary will bring the subject up when it takes over the rotating presidency of the European Union Council.

Reporter: During the meeting, the opportunities for developing economic and sectoral cooperation, infrastructure development and ensuring energy security were discussed. The President of Romania emphasized that in the Romanian side's view, economic cooperation must be structured through projects of common interest, non-discriminatory based on ethnic criteria. President Klaus Iohannis reiterated Romania's commitment to advancing the European agenda in order to have a united, stronger and more resilient Union.

The bilateral discussions highlighted the support of both states for the continuation of the Union expansion process and reiterated Romania's firm support for the adoption, by the end of this year, of the decision to open accession negotiations to the European Union with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. (II)

The subject of Romania's accession to Schengen, our European priority, as President Klaus Iohannis said, was also discussed. Regarding this, the president of Hungary, Katalin Novak, continued to show her support for Romania and declared that if, until Hungary takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Union, Romania will not be accepted into Schengen, Hungary will take this step expedite.

Translated by: Radu Matei