Hungary’s Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen discussed Romania’s education law, cooperation in energy and tourism, the granting of dual citizenship, restoring fiscal balance and working with churches, in Bucharest on Friday.
Talking to reporters following a meeting with counterpart Bela Marko, Semjen referred to Hungary’s recent dual citizenship law and said that it had “basically” been modelled on similar legislation in Romania. “Just as any Romanian living anywhere in the world will be granted Romanian citizenship, we deem it natural that Hungarians in any country should have the possibility to obtain Hungarian citizenship,” Semjen said.
The talks focused on bilateral ties and the strategic partnership between Romania and Hungary, Marko said at the press conference, calling those relations crucial for the development of the whole of the region, especially in terms of energy supplies and infrastructure.
Semjen thanked Romania’s Hungarian community for its donations to flood-hit towns in Hungary and the Romanian government for sending sandbags to help flood-prevention efforts.
The deputy PM met Romanian President Traian Basescu earlier in the day and expressed appreciation of Basescu’s positive attitude to Hungary’s new citizenship law. “Ethnic Hungarians in Transylvania will not forget this,” he added.
The two politicians also discussed cooperation in energy issues in an effort to reduce dependence in supplies.
At talks with Prime Minister Emil Boc, Semjen said he had presented in detail the new Hungarian government’s economic plans, including the introduction of 16 percent flat tax and family taxation.
At a meeting with Elena Udrea, Minister of Regional Development and Tourism, cooperation in tourism development was discussed and the two sides shared the view that using Hungary’s thermal waters can play a central role in upcoming projects.
Semjen said he had also met Orthodox leader Patriarch Daniel and came to an agreement that “when Hungary and Romania act together in various European Union affairs, our historic churches would also act together in EU forums.”
He is scheduled to have talks with Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc, Regional Development Minister Elena Udrea and Patriarch Daniel, head of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
