Security guaranteed by NATO is crucial for Hungary; the country is a committed member and committed participant in joint operations, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban told reporters following talks with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in Brussels on Thursday.

Rasmussen praised Hungary's role in developing the organisation's air carrier capability at the military air base of Papa (W Hungary). "This demonstrates what the allies can achieve if they unite their resources," Rasmussen added. He also spoke highly of Hungary's contributions to NATO's missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo.

A strong European Parliament and decisive EU institutions are desirable to make a strong Europe, Orban said at a meeting with Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament.

Earlier in the day, Orban met European Council President Herman van Rompuy, who said, in agreement with Orban, that the economic and financial crisis is far from over, and further shocks are expected to come.

Orban and Van Rompuy agreed that, due to the crisis, the economic policies of the European member states should be more closely coordinated and the system of supervision made tighter, Peter Szijjarto, the prime minister's spokesman, told MTI.

Orban, accompanied by Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi, met Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, who told him that he expects to closely cooperate during Hungary's EU presidency in the first half of 2011.

At a joint press conference Barroso said he urged Hungary to continue fiscal consolidation, which would create the necessary trust needed for economic growth. He added that the time is ripe for structural reforms not only in Hungary but in many other member states. He said cooperation should encompass a new type of EU economic policy, restoring investor trust and planning the EU's post-2013 budget.

Orban said Hungary knows what is expected of its presidency and will fulfill tasks. He pledged deep changes and structural reforms and more transparency under his government, as well as reducing the budget deficit and national debt.

Barroso said he was confident Fidesz's two-thirds majority in parliament would help push through reforms. He added a reminder that Hungary was helped by the EU and IMF's joint programme at the time of trouble due to the economic crisis.

On the subject of recent tension between Hungary and Slovakia over citizenship laws, Barroso asked both parties to settle their differences and discuss sensitive issues bilaterally, in "a European manner."

Orban said that Hungary has good relations with six out of its seven neighbours and that he hopes ties will improve with the seventh partner, too.

Hungary has adopted a law which eases the rules for ethnic Hungarians to apply for Hungarian citizenship. Slovakia has protested and introduced a law which could strip Hungarians in Slovakia of their Slovak citizenship if they applied.