Hungary views Eastern Partnership as important objective in foreign policy

January 8, 2011 - 13:40 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The success of the Eastern Partnership represents a substantial resource which can strengthen the community significantly, according Hungarian Prime Minister.

In an interview published on the Council of the European Union’s website, Viktor Orban said that if the EU wants to be successful in the global arena, then it must be successful back home as well.

“The Hungarian EU presidency in the first half of next year considers the promotion of the Eastern Partnership to be one of its most important objectives in foreign policy; we will even organize an Eastern Partnership Summit in Budapest next May,” the Prime Minister was quoted as saying.

“In the course of preparation for the presidency, I conducted an extensive consultation process throughout Europe: I met all fellow prime ministers, but I also had talks with the leaders of countries participating in the Eastern Partnership and with several heads of government of the Balkan region. My experience was that everybody was interested in a strong Europe because it is a source of support and resources for all nations. In this spirit, we will do everything we can to make sure that the community and the "Europe 2020" strategy become successful.”

Hungary took the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union from Belgium during a ceremony on January 6, 2011, ENPI Info Center reporter.