Fico and Orbán agreed at the meeting that they need to prepare for different developments in the EU

Bratislava – Spontaneous, friendly, and content-rich. That was how the Tuesday meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Bratislava was described by the Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD), during which they also talked about the situation in the EU. The Prime Minister invited Orbán for an official visit to Slovakia on March 19th to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Treaty on Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between the Slovak Republic and Hungary, reports TASR.

“I am glad that the quality of Slovak-Hungarian relations is currently at the highest possible level, Hungarian-Slovak coexistence is not a political issue. We find the same opinion not only on the events in our countries but also on the international scene,” Fico stated. He described the meeting with Orbán as spontaneous, friendly, and very thematic. “We talked about the current situation in the European Union, mentioned the first steps of US President Donald Trump,” Fico said.

He added that in many statements and opinions, for example on migration or family issues, he aligns with the new head of the White House.

Fico informed Orbán about the current internal political issues of the SR, including the opposition’s activity and its criticism of the government’s stance on international political issues. “Even here, at this meeting, I emphasize that our living space is the EU and NATO, but we have the right to be critical,” the Prime Minister stressed. He added that both governments realize the responsibility to prepare their countries for various developments that may occur in the Union. He also informed Orbán about the latest steps planned by the government, including the constitutional guarantee of only two genders – male and female.

The Hungarian Prime Minister agreed with the assessment of the high quality of relations between the two countries, also emphasizing that both countries are members of the EU and NATO. “And so it will remain,” he stressed. However, he shares the same opinion about the dynamic development in the world and in Europe. He even thinks that with Trump returning to the post of US President, Slovakia and Hungary are entering the main ideological current of the Western world.

“The Western world stands on two legs, European and American, and with opinions on migration or family formulated by the new American president, which coincide with our views, we are becoming part of the intellectual mainstream of the Western world,” Orbán stated. He reiterated that Hungary is interested in the quickest possible end to the war in Ukraine, criticized intentions to prolong the conflict, and criticized anti-Russian sanctions that harm the interests of EU member states, including Hungary and Slovakia. “That is why we are, for example, glad that Mr. Fico has voiced criticism of stopping gas transit through Ukraine and pointed out the negative impact of this step on Europe,” he added. He also supported Fico in his efforts to restore transit.

Both Prime Ministers supported Ukraine’s efforts to join the EU, but emphasized that integration must occur according to conditions that need to be met. They both rejected Ukraine’s entry into NATO. (January 21st)