Norwegian Foreign Minister visited Budapest

Key topics for the talks with the Hungarian Foreign Minister were European cooperation and security policy, in addition to other current foreign policy issues. Norway and Hungary also enjoy good bilateral relations in many areas, such as in the business sector.

‘We had constructive talks on a variety of topics of common interest, both on our bilateral relations and not the least on our cooperation in Nato and the UN and with the EU. I also considered it important to express Norway’s concern about developments taking place in Hungary, especially the shrinking space for civil society, media and academia. For that reason it was important to visit Central European University and meet representatives of the civil society’, said Ms Eriksen Søreide.

Hungary has received funding under the EEA and Norway Grants scheme ever since it became a member of the EU in 2004, but no agreements have been reached with Hungary for the current period. Norway and the other donor countries consider it essential that support channelled to civil society through the EEA and Norway grants is managed independently of the authorities, in Hungary as in all other recipient countries.

‘I hope that a new agreement with Hungary on funding under EEA and Norway Grants will soon be in place so that we can continue our close cooperation within a number of fields that are important for both countries,’ said Ms Eriksen Søreide.