Budapest, 14 May, 2024
The second day in Budapest started with the meeting of the first deputy prime minister for European Integration, Development and Dialogue of the Republic of Kosovo, Besnik Bislimi, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Péter Szijjártó.
Strengthening bilateral relations and increasing cooperation were the focus of the talks. The Deputy Prime Minister thanked Minister Szijjártó for Hungary’s support to Kosovo since the declaration of independence.
He singled out the support in the visa liberalization process, in the acceptance of the Republic of Kosovo as part of UEFA during the Budapest Conference in 2016, which paved the way to our membership in FIFA as well as the vote in favor of Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO in in 2015. The continuous contribution of the Hungarian contingent within KFOR, in maintaining peace and security in the country and the region, was highly appreciated.
Emphasizing that the trend of the volume of commercial exchange between our two countries has increased in recent years, Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi added that we must continue to strengthen the level of mutual cooperation and expand the forms and opportunities for commercial exchange and services of interest to common.
The meeting also discussed the developments in the country and the achievements in the last three years, where our country has recorded a decrease in the unemployment rate, which more than halved from 25.7% in 2019 to 11.8% last year, average economic growth at the level of 6.2%, low level of public debt in comparison with EU member states, increase in budget revenues by 47.7%, doubling of exports and foreign direct investments and more formalization of the economy in the last three years than in previous periods. The progress of our country is also proven by international indices and measurements which evidence our progress in rule of law, fight against corruption, democratization of the country and civil liberties.
Kosovo’s path in the process of European integration was another essential point of the talks between the parties. As the importance of the integration of the Western Balkans region into the European Union was jointly emphasized, the deputy prime minister underlined the commitment of our country in fulfilling the criteria, standards and reform agenda in this process, including the preparations regarding the Growth Plan, the finalization of priorities and the list of indicative reforms.
Further, the Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi recalled the application of the Republic of Kosovo for membership in the European Union, emphasizing the need now for moving forward in concrete steps and the expectations that Kosovo has from the future Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU in the meritorious handling of our application.
Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi also emphasized the importance of our membership in the Council of Europe, where he asked for support from every country that has recognized the Republic of Kosovo and that supports our integration towards the main international institutions.
After the bilateral meeting, a joint press conference was held. Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi thanked Minister Szijjártó for the hospitality and the views exchanged.
Last modified: May 15, 2024