Italy is one of our most important allies 

On Thursday in the Carmelite Monastery, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had talks with President of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy Lorenzo Fontana, Bertalan Havasi, the Prime Minister’s press chief informed the Hungarian news agency MTI. 

According to the Prime Minister, Italy is one of Hungary’s most important allies; we regard our cooperation as key equally in the field of bilateral relations, in the European Union and in NATO. 

Our countries are tied together by geographical proximity, historical roots and the identical views we hold on ideological and social issues, the parties established at the meeting. 

Our economic relations, too, are expanding spectacularly; in 2022, Italy was Hungary’s 5^th most significant trade partner. 

We are observing with concern the pressure of migration weighing heavily upon Italy, Mr Orbán stated, highlighting that Hungary itself has first-hand information about the intensification of the situation in the context of the Balkans route. Both countries are committed to stopping illegal migration through the reinforcement of the EU’s external borders and the development of more effective return and readmission policies, the parties pointed out at the meeting.