Romanian prime minister Marcel Ciolacu met with Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban on Friday, July 26. The main discussion topics were the Budapest\u2013Bucharest high-speed train and Romania\u2019s full accession to the Schengen Area.<\/p>\n
“Today I had a pragmatic discussion with the prime minister of Hungary, Mr. Viktor Orban, on topics of mutual interest regarding our bilateral cooperation. Our trade exchanges amount to approximately EUR 13 billion. We agreed that there is still untapped potential,” announced<\/a> PSD (Social Democratic Party) president and prime minister Marcel Ciolacu.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ciolacu added that feasibility studies for the Budapest\u2013Bucharest high-speed train will commence soon, connecting the railway networks in Central Europe.<\/p>\n The head of the Romanian Executive also noted that “Romania relies on Hungary to strengthen the European strategic agenda,” given that Hungary holds the EU Council presidency until the end of the year.<\/p>\n “Additionally, I thanked prime minister Viktor Orban for his unequivocal support for Romania’s accession to the Schengen Area and its land borders,” Ciolacu further wrote.\u00a0<\/p>\n Viktor Orban, in turn, promised that \u201cthe Hungarian EU Presidency will put Romania\u2019s accession to the Schengen Area on the Council\u2019s agenda this autumn,\u201d according to his post on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n The meeting, which was not on Marcel Ciolacu’s official agenda, took place a day before Viktor Orban attends the Summer University in B\u0103ile Tu\u0219nad, where he will deliver his traditional annual speech.<\/p>\n