Fidesz will become a strong pillar of the European People's Party

Joint preparations for next June's European elections were the principal issues on the agenda at the meeting of Mr Hans-Gert Pöttering, head of EPP-ED parliamentary group, and former prime minister Viktor Orbán, chairman of Fidesz, on 27 September 2003 in Budapest.

Dátum: 2003-10-07 14:00:00, eredeti URL: http://archiv.fidesz.hu/index.php?Cikk=15568
KCMDB-be feltöltve: 2024-05-04 18:54:57.220475, Feltöltő: fidesz_hu_scraper_v2

At their joint press conference following the meeting, the group chairman expressed its conviction that EPP would indeed remain the largest group in the European Parliament following the 2004 elections, and Fidesz would contribute to the victory. Out of the 24 mandates available for Hungary, Fidesz would take at least 12-14 seats, he said. Mr Pöttering emphasised that he was very happy to be in close friendship with Mr Viktor Orbán, "the former and future prime minister of Hungary", as he said. Fidesz, the group chairman said, was a European party consistent in defending national interests. Mr Pöttering emphasised that the inclusion of the rights of national and ethnic minorities in the future European Constitution was an issue in which Fidesz and the European People's Party could work together on.

Hungary's 2004 budget will decide whether Hungarians would be winners or losers of accession, Mr Orbán said at the press conference. The budget must assist the families, employees, and the young generations in making use of the opportunities EU-accession offers. Otherwise, we face potential failure, he said. Speaking about Europe's future, Mr Orbán emphasised that the draft European Constitution, although not fully satisfying Hungarian demands, seemed to be apt to become a basic document for Europe's nations.

The two politicians were guest speakers at the conference of the International Kolping Federation, held in Budapest on 26 September 2003.