Hungarian Ambassador expects stronger links with Romania
Fuzes has worked in
as both a journalist and a diplomat, and has traveled extensively in the country. “In 1977, when I first came to at the start of my diplomatic career, was a totally different country, without any comparison to the present one. I think it’s been one of the great achievements in its history that has taken this step and become in such a short period of time a truly modern European country. I know there are still many shortcomings and there’s still a long way to go, but what has done during this period is admirable,” said the Hungarian Ambassador.
Fuzes believes the change of mentality within the Romanian political elite has been the most significant change the country has experienced in the last 20 years. “Everything has changed in – from a remote, oppressed country during the Ceausescu regime, it has become a free and democratic European country. Another aspect that I would like to add is that during this enormous change, has managed to preserve its historical roots and cultural identity.”
The Ambassador explained that his diplomatic mission here revolves around two main objectives: “One of my goals is obtaining a level of relations between and that is based on real trust. We are now allies in the EU, we are allies in the NATO and we are the most interconnected neighbors. I believe we are already done with the historical conflicts and problems.” The Ambassador’s second objective is to expand existing levels of cooperation and interconnectivity in all social and economic fields, such as infrastructure, transport, agriculture, pipelines, and the EU budget. As well, he would like to promote regional development and the free movement of people and services – not only in Transylvania but also in other regions such as Bucovina and . “In addition, we can, and must, cooperate within the framework of the EU. One of our main priorities is to obtain and use together the EU funds,” he explained.
For example, Ambassador Fuzes supports efforts to establish a common economic region along the Romanian–Hungarian border. This region would be comprised of four Romanian and four Hungarian counties. “We could apply a common development project for these unified counties in all the fields; for instance, we could have a common healthcare system for all these eight counties. We could do the same thing for the transport segment,” he explained, adding that the Romanian and Hungarian authorities are already discussing this project.
The Ambassador identified another area of cooperation for improving relations between and – surprisingly, it is the financial crisis. “I cannot say I am happy the crisis exists, but I am happy that it has helped us strengthen our bilateral relations once we realized that we have to stick together during these difficult times. Nobody can predict when or how the crisis will end or what its consequences will be. So, we shouldn’t waste time with unnecessary debates but rather stick together, because we can support each other in a very effective way. Another interesting aspect about the crisis has been its positive effect on the mindset of Hungarian investors who became more interested in looking towards the east as a good place to invest.”
ranks among the top in FDI in , with more than 5,000 firms present in the country and with a total invested capital of over one billion Euro. Nevertheless, the crisis has affected trade between and : “Bilateral trade has diminished a bit as compared to last year – there has been nearly a ten per cent decrease in 2009. Last year, before the crisis, we had 5.4 billion Euro in trade,” said the Hungarian Ambassador.
These economic figures could rebound through stronger cooperation in various domains. “We can bring even further investment and know-how to by creating joint ventures in the energy field, common clusters of development, interconnection of pipelines, roads and railways and a special program for joint ventures in SMEs. Generally, in the Romanian market, Hungarians invest in IT, energy services, infrastructure and communal works, financial services, tourism, agriculture and wood processing,” said the Ambassador, who is a native of the southern Hungarian city of Szeged and is quite fond of the Romanian cities Sf. Gheorghe and Suceava. He added, “ just needs to improve its infrastructure, agriculture system and public spending system in order to enhance its economic development. Plus, cutting down its bureaucracy!”
Fuzes believes the change of mentality within the Romanian political elite has been the most significant change the country has experienced in the last 20 years. “Everything has changed in – from a remote, oppressed country during the Ceausescu regime, it has become a free and democratic European country. Another aspect that I would like to add is that during this enormous change, has managed to preserve its historical roots and cultural identity.”
The Ambassador explained that his diplomatic mission here revolves around two main objectives: “One of my goals is obtaining a level of relations between and that is based on real trust. We are now allies in the EU, we are allies in the NATO and we are the most interconnected neighbors. I believe we are already done with the historical conflicts and problems.” The Ambassador’s second objective is to expand existing levels of cooperation and interconnectivity in all social and economic fields, such as infrastructure, transport, agriculture, pipelines, and the EU budget. As well, he would like to promote regional development and the free movement of people and services – not only in Transylvania but also in other regions such as Bucovina and . “In addition, we can, and must, cooperate within the framework of the EU. One of our main priorities is to obtain and use together the EU funds,” he explained.
For example, Ambassador Fuzes supports efforts to establish a common economic region along the Romanian–Hungarian border. This region would be comprised of four Romanian and four Hungarian counties. “We could apply a common development project for these unified counties in all the fields; for instance, we could have a common healthcare system for all these eight counties. We could do the same thing for the transport segment,” he explained, adding that the Romanian and Hungarian authorities are already discussing this project.
The Ambassador identified another area of cooperation for improving relations between and – surprisingly, it is the financial crisis. “I cannot say I am happy the crisis exists, but I am happy that it has helped us strengthen our bilateral relations once we realized that we have to stick together during these difficult times. Nobody can predict when or how the crisis will end or what its consequences will be. So, we shouldn’t waste time with unnecessary debates but rather stick together, because we can support each other in a very effective way. Another interesting aspect about the crisis has been its positive effect on the mindset of Hungarian investors who became more interested in looking towards the east as a good place to invest.”
ranks among the top in FDI in , with more than 5,000 firms present in the country and with a total invested capital of over one billion Euro. Nevertheless, the crisis has affected trade between and : “Bilateral trade has diminished a bit as compared to last year – there has been nearly a ten per cent decrease in 2009. Last year, before the crisis, we had 5.4 billion Euro in trade,” said the Hungarian Ambassador.
These economic figures could rebound through stronger cooperation in various domains. “We can bring even further investment and know-how to by creating joint ventures in the energy field, common clusters of development, interconnection of pipelines, roads and railways and a special program for joint ventures in SMEs. Generally, in the Romanian market, Hungarians invest in IT, energy services, infrastructure and communal works, financial services, tourism, agriculture and wood processing,” said the Ambassador, who is a native of the southern Hungarian city of Szeged and is quite fond of the Romanian cities Sf. Gheorghe and Suceava. He added, “ just needs to improve its infrastructure, agriculture system and public spending system in order to enhance its economic development. Plus, cutting down its bureaucracy!”
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