Good day, my greetings to everyone.

First of all, I would like to thank the Slovenian professionals for having completed this ambitious project. When I look at this investment, I see three risks facing Europe and Hungary: those related to security, to the economy and to energy supply. When times are uncertain, good neighbourly relations always gain in value, and this also increases the desire for good neighbourly relations. It is a great asset for two neighbours to have good relations, and we have good relations with Slovenia. We must appreciate this, and this asset must be preserved. We are cooperating with Slovenia within the framework of NATO, as part of which we also undertake policing tasks in Slovenia’s airspace. Our economic relations are excellent. I would like to draw the attention of journalists to the fact that, while Europe is preparing for a recession and talking about how to avoid a recession, we are seeing record Slovenian-Hungarian trade flows. In such difficult times, trade between the two countries has increased by 35 per cent, ever more investment is flowing into Slovenia, and ever more investment is flowing into Hungary from Slovenia. In addition, we have set up a joint fund to carry out development in our shared border region. Once it is operational, the volume of cooperation will increase even more. The two countries are also linked by the fact that we see the minority communities living in each other’s countries as assets. Hungary considers Slovenians living in Hungary to be of great value. Since our government has been in power in Hungary, support for the Slovenian community living in Hungary has increased sixfold: it is 600 per cent of what it was. And we are pleased to see that Slovenia also considers Hungarians living in Slovenia to be a valuable asset. This attitude of our two governments also links our two countries emotionally, as we respect each other through the minorities living on the territory of each country.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am grateful to Prime Minister Robert Golob for hosting me here today, and I thank him for the work he has done so far for Slovenian-Hungarian cooperation.