Visit to Hungarian Prime Minister to discuss EU Budget and to promote trade and economic links between Ireland and Hungary
On Friday, 25 November the Taoiseach will pay a one-day visit to Budapest, Hungary for discussions with the Hungarian Prime Minister Mr. Ferenc Gyurcsany and to launch the Irish Hungarian Business Circle, a new joint Irish-Hungarian body designed to promote trade and economic links between the two countries.
The Taoiseach’s visit to Hungary is part of an on-going programme of bi-lateral visits by him to Ireland’s EU partners, particularly the ten new Member States who joined the Union on 1 May 2004, during Ireland’s EU Presidency.
The objective of these visits is to further strengthen our political and economic links with our EU partners. The visits also provide an opportunity to exchange views on current issues on the EU’s agenda.
In his meeting with Prime Minister Gyurcsany, the Taoiseach is expected to discuss the on-going negotiations on the future Financial Perspectives of the EU, where the British Presidency will attempt to secure a deal at the European Council on 15-16 December in Brussels.
The Taoiseach will emphasise the importance we attach to protecting the October 2002 agreement in the European Council on the future funding of the Common Agriculture Policy. For his part, Prime Minister Gyurcsany will emphasise the importance of an early agreement on the future funding of the Union, and the need for Hungary to receive adequate Structural and Cohesion funding in the coming years.
The Taoiseach and Prime Minister Gyurcsany will also discuss the situation in the Western Balkans and will review the further strengthening of Ireland’s economic relations with Hungary.
The Taoiseach and Prime Minister Gyurcsany will jointly launch the Irish Hungarian Business Circle, a new organisation to promote business relations between the two countries.
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