Parliamentary cooperation, partnership within the EU and NATO and priorities of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU have been discussed by Dimitar Glavchev, Speaker of the National Assembly, and Márta Mátrai, Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament. A Hungarian parliamentary delegation has come to an official visit to Bulgaria.

Today’s visit is a continuation of the traditionally good and friendly relations between Bulgaria and Hungary, said Dimitar Glavchev at the meeting. He emphasised that the visit is made on an important date – 19 October, the Bulgarian-Hungarian Friendship Day, and reminded that on 15 September last year the Bulgarian Parliament decided to celebrate the friendship between the two countries on this date.

Dimitar Glavchev praised the development of the relations between Bulgaria and Hungary at all levels and added that they are based on historical and cultural ties and mutual sympathies between the two peoples. We have similar views on many issues from the EU agenda and face common challenges, he said. In his words, the Hungarian Presidency of the Visegrád Group provide additional opportunities for efficient interaction on the topical issues of the region and Europe.

The Speaker of the Parliament has said that Bulgaria highly values Hungary’s support for our country’s efforts to join Schengen. He thanked for Hungary’s attitude to the Bulgarian national minority and the institutional framework for minorities, which allows Bulgarians in Hungary to preserve their national identity.

The forthcoming Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU was also discussed at the meeting. Dimitar Glavhev mentioned that the European prospect for the Western Balkans would be a key priority for our country.

The ties between the two countries have been developing exceptionally well and are at a very high level, said Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament Márta Mátrai at the talks. She also stressed on the fruitful cooperation between the two Parliaments and the key significance of the active communication between the Committees for exchange of valuable experience and best practices in legislation.

It is in our common interest to keep Europe united, which can only happen if we work together towards achieving our common goals, added Márta Mátrai. We support Bulgaria’s joining Schengen as well as border protection because this is important for all of us, she said. Hungary strictly respects the rights of all minorities, said Márta Mátrai and added that the representatives of minorities at the Hungarian Parliament, among which the representative of the Bulgarian minority, were very active.

The Hungarian MPs were welcomed in the plenary hall of the National Assembly. 

The Hungarian guests and the members of the Bulgaria-Hungary Friendship group exchanged greetings on the anniversary. Chair of the Group Milena Damyanova said that the MPs, united in their wish to have closer and more active relations with Hungary, initiated the celebration of the Bulgaria-Hungary Friendship Day on 19 October. The relations between our two countries have their history and the warm feelings between Bulgarians and Hungarians act as a guarantee that our cooperation will continue to develop at all levels, she emphasised. We have high expectations that we will deepen our ties in education, science and culture in the period 2017-2020, added Milena Damaynova, Chair of the Friendship Group.