Hongaarse Europa-minister ziet culturele smeltkroes in Karpaten als voorbeeld voor Europa en basis regionaal beleid (en)

„Any reconciliation will require more than just tolerance, the discovery of diversity as a value is necessary,” stressed Eniko Gyori, Minister of State for EU Affairs, at a conference on the Reconciliation and Carpathian Co-existence, in Brussels, on 16 March 2011. Numerous ethnographic researchers, political scientists from Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia, shared their views at the event hosted by László Surján, Hungarian Member of the European Parliament, representing the European People's Party.

Eniko Gyori underlined the „Carpathian Basin is not a poor backyard of Europe, nor is it a melting pot, it is rather a laboratory of conflicts and co-existence, which can give an enormous contribution to a Stronger Europe”. Ms Gyori added, “The European Union can be defined in many ways. The single market, the monetary union, the common institutions and common policies, are all very important, but Europe should have a heart, a soul and a spirit”.

Enlargement process

The Minister of State, stressed the Hungarian Presidency would do its best to facilitate the enlargement process, which played an important role in the reconciliation in the Carpathian Basin, as well. On Croatia's EU accession, Ms Gyori said the Presidency still hoped that, ”With vigorous efforts from all sides..., we can close all the remaining negotiating chapters, before the end of our term on June 30”.

Referring to the enlargement of the Schengen Area, Eniko Gyori underlined that, although some Member States were reluctant to join the consensus needed for Romania and Bulgaria, to lift all checks on their internal borders, „the Hungarian presidency is working hard, to offer a solution or at least a compromise“.

Although, for organisational reasons, the Eastern Partnership summit was postponed from May to October, Hungary still considers this topic a priority, and together with the Polish presidency, it will co-host the event, underlined Ms Gyori.

Inclusion of the Roma and the Danube Strategy

„The Roma are a par excellence and yet the most distressed European, and to a large extent, Carpathian people, their inclusion is a noble challenge and a chance for Europe”, stressed Ms Gyori, when presenting the emerging European Framework for Roma Strategies. Underlining the utmost importance of the cohesion policy, Eniko Gyori said, the Hungarian Presidency has managed to have conclusions adopted at the February General Affairs Council. „We took a major step towards securing the future of this policy, crucial for all Carpathian nations", she stressed.

In reference to the cross-border cooperation, the Minister of State, underlined the importance of the future Danube strategy-„Beyond its obvious economic and ecological aspects, it carries a strong message about, and for the peoples of the Carpathian Basin”, said Ms Gyori. She added that Danube strategy was expected to get the endorsement of the European Council in June. „Together with the Roma Strategy, this should be a fine finale to what hopefully many will judge a successful Hungarian Presidency,” concluded Eniko Gyori.