Press release, 8 May 2013

Hungary supports the priorities of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, further EU development and the Eastern Partnership. This was confirmed by the visiting Minister of State for EU Affairs of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Enikő Győri, at the meeting with Gediminas Kirkilas, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas and Chair of the Committee on European Affairs.

“The fact that Croatia will become a Member State of the EU during the Lithuanian Presidency shows that the EU enlargement process is still viable,” Ms Győri said. The Minister of State exchanged her insights with Mr Kirkilas about the European integration prospects of the Eastern Partnership (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) and Balkan countries.

Mr Kirkilas stressed that the fate of Ukraine is currently of key importance as the country aspires to EU membership, bearing in mind the possibility of signing the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement during the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council. “I am convinced that if Ukraine signs the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, the EU definitely will not lose leverage on democracy in Ukraine and, I should say, on the contrary – it will increase it.”

The adoption of the EU budget for 2014–2020 was discussed at length during the meeting. “We are still in the dark about the future EU multiannual financial framework. We were almost certain that it would be adopted during the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU, but apparently it might lead to adjustment of the agenda of the Lithuanian Presidency,” Mr Kirkilas said.

Consideration of EU matters in the Lithuanian and Hungarian parliaments was also discussed at the meeting. “The Lithuanian model is similar to the Scandinavian one where the parliamentary Committee on European Affairs is vested with important powers when it comes to consideration of EU affairs. However, it is expected that the Seimas will grant in advance the decision-making mandate to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania for the period of the Lithuanian Presidency,” Mr Kirkilas said.

The Hungarian official responsible for EU affairs explained to Mr Kirkilas the Hungarian arguments concerning the Constitution of Hungary, effective since 1 January 2012, and its amendments adopted by the Hungarian Parliament this March. The EU criticises Hungary on the grounds that the Constitution limits the powers of the Constitutional Court and poses a threat to the pluralism of media and the independence of courts.

“The EU is not the USSR. It is a community of democratic nations. Therefore, Hungary today, just as other EU Member States, has the right to discuss and argue with Brussels and express its opinion,” Mr Kirkilas said. He did not dismiss the possibility of having discussions on the Constitution of Hungary on the European level once again during the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

The participants of the meeting also shared the experience of both countries in their efforts to introduce the Euro, fight against the economic crisis and its consequences, promote economic growth and employment and address energy problems.

Morta Vidūnaitė, Adviser to Gediminas Kirkilas, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas, tel: +370 5 239 6278, mob: +370 612 01121, e-mail: [email protected]