Katalin Novák on official visit to Bucharest

The President of Hungary was received with military honours at the Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest, which houses the Office of the President of Romania. The last official presidential-level meeting in the Romanian capital was held twelve years ago, in 2010. The Hungarian head of state was invited on an official visit by President of Romania Klaus Iohannis.

Katalin Novák stressed that this meeting was an opportunity "to talk face to face about the most important issues affecting our nations" and "to open a new chapter in our collaboration”. She said that since Hungary and Romania are neighbouring countries, it is necessary to have positive relations, and they will work towards this in the future. She added that they also agreed that they want to de-escalate, rather than escalate, existing tensions. The President of Hungary said she believes in pragmatic, good and modern relations between Romania and Hungary. 

Katalin Novák said that their meeting with President of Romania Klaus Iohannis focused – among other things - on Romania's accession to the Schengen area, the situation and language use of Hungarians living in Romania, the assistance to refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, energy issues and the resolution of energy dependence. 
"Our goal and our task is to amplify the voice of the European Union and to increase its influence", said Katalin Novák at a joint press conference with the Romanian head of state after the meeting. In response to a question, she said that the two countries are ready to take joint action on this issue as well. "We need good joint decisions", she stressed.

After her bilateral meeting with Romania’s head of state, the President of Hungary was received by Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca, Acting President of the Senate Alina-Stefania Gorghiu and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Ion-Marcel Ciolacu.

In Bucharest, Katalin Novák also met with Hunor Kelemen, Chairman of the Hungarian Democratic Alliance of Romania (RMDSZ), Deputy Prime Minister of the Romanian government, and other RMDSZ ministers in the Romanian government.