Hungary - Meeting between Amélie de Montchalin and Judit Varga (12 November 2019)

Amélie de Montchalin, Minister of State for European Affairs, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, received Judit Varga, Hungarian Minister of Justice, who is also responsible for European Affairs, on Tuesday, November 12.

The discussions focused on the priorities of the new institutional cycle for the EU and their budgetary implications within the future Multiannual Financial Framework, notably including the common agricultural policy, the cohesion policy, the energy transition and the fight against climate change, the strengthening of European defense, migration challenges and the reform of the Schengen zone.

The two ministers also raised the issue of EU support for stabilization and development in the western Balkans, whose European prospects they reaffirmed. Mme de Montchalin presented France’s proposal for reforming the adhesion process.

They also discussed questions related to the rule of law in the context of the proceedings opened under article 7 of the EU Treaty.

Furthermore, the minister underscored the importance of instruments contributing to the consolidation of European unity around common values, such as the Observatoire sur l’Enseignement de l’Histoire project put forward under the French presidency of the Council of Europe.

She affirmed her commitment to a constructive dialogue with Hungary on all topics and to launching new forms of bilateral cooperation aimed at strengthening the EU. She expressed her intention to travel to Budapest in the near future to continue this dialogue.