'Happy that Hungary is not in eurozone' – Hungarian PM Viktor Orban

Speaking during a joint press conference at Castille following talks with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, the Hungarian Prime Minister explained how the Euro currency, shaken by both the international crisis and repeated calls for member-state bailouts – most recent of which is Ireland – he is thankful that Hungary opted not to adopt the European currency.

Euro zone members and the International Monetary Fund agreed to a €110 billion three-year bail-out package to rescue Greece's embattled economy earlier this year, while Ireland’s request for a similar bail-out was welcomed EU finance ministers and the European Central Bank.

Orbán spoke of Hungary’s own experiences with bail-outs when two years ago, the country’s economy collapsed. He recounted how speediness in requesting aid is a factor not to be taken lightly, and cautioned all member states to make “necessary decisions fast and being courageous helps.”

Following its bail-out, Orbán said the country did not wish to use the IMF as a “crutch”, describing this as political bargain that can undermine national confidence and self-respect.

He explained how the country made a bid for the bonds market to try and re-establish its financial footing and independence. “We were quite successful, and I believe this non-dependence on international financial institutions was important.”

He urged other countries not to use the IMF as a crutch, and to strive to achieve financial independence and make a return to the market, even if a bail-out is warranted and even granted.

Orbán also remarked how this is the first time a Hungarian Prime Minister ever made an official state visit to Malta, describing this as a “great mistake”.

In his own address, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi spoke of the talks that took place earlier during day. On the agenda, he said, were issues like taking a closer look at the economic realities that currently plague the EU, how to boost competitiveness, and the issue of immigration.

On immigration, Gonzi reiterated Malta’s position that the country would like so see more EU work being done towards policies that recognise the realities a fringe island state faces and address what is, after all, a European problem. “The value of solidarity needs to be translated into burden sharing initiatives,” he said.

Gonzi said he is looking forward to a Hungarian presidency, set to start next year, that recognises challenges like energy and immigration – aspects to which Gonzi said Malta needed specific answers.

On his part, Orbán said Malta “deserves greater attention” and “special treatment on key issues such as immigration.” He explained how as a border country, Hungary “knows what it is like and understood the importance of burden sharing.”

Orbán also spoke of the importance of an energy policy for central European countries, adding that an ‘energy summit’ will be held in February that will discuss the topic in detail and try to determine solutions.

He also referred to a strategy for the Danube river, an EU enlargement policy towards the Balkans starting with Croatia – who, he said, should have been in the EU last year and hoped for accession negotiations to be finalised by the end of the Hungarian presidency – and a strategy aimed at handling the Roma influx issue.

At the same time, he opined how the “Irish problem” and other similar issues will “probably overshadow” these “key” initiatives that the Hungarian presidency is looking towards.

Orbán also placed great emphasis on an “ideal” or goal that will service to motivate the entire European Union and coalesce efforts towards one objective.

This objective, he said, should be ensuring that by 2020, the EU becomes a full-employment continent. The EU’s objective should be “jobs, jobs, and more jobs,” he emphasised.

Gonzi endorsed this position wholeheartedly, pointing out how this approach is inline with the government’s own agenda, as laid down in the recent budget only weeks ago.