PM Orbán: V4 to provide financial support to Italy to protect borders

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has announced that the Visegrád Four have decided to provide significant financial support and offer assistance to help Italy protect its maritime borders, therefore defending both Europe and Hungary

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has announced that the Visegrád Four have decided to provide significant financial support and offer assistance to help Italy protect its maritime borders, therefore defending both Europe and Hungary.

The prime minister made the announcement in a joint video with President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels on Thursday, following a meeting of Visegrád Group (V4) heads of government.

“We all know that Hungary is protecting the land borders of Europe, and the maritime borders must be protected by Italy," PM Orbán said.

"This is the proof that the Visegrád Four countries are fully aligned when it comes to solidarity with Italy and others," President Juncker commented on the offer.

Negotiations between the Commission and the Prime Ministers of the Visegrád Four countries started during the summer and continued throughout the past months.

The prime minister highlighted how our personal and national security and the security of our families and a life free from terror depend on whether the Hungarians and Italians succeed in defending the external borders of Europe on land and sea.

The prime ministers of the Visegrád Four countries also agreed to contribute 35 million euros to finance a border control program in Libya, according to a joint declaration released by the Hungarian prime minister’s office on Thursday.

The funds are aimed at facilitating a border protection program managed by the Italian government with assistance from the European Commission.

The prime ministers of the Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia have also offered their cooperation in the implementation of the program, and voiced their conviction that the migration pressure on Europe can only be eased by protecting the external borders and removing the causes of migration.

The prime ministers of the Visegrád Four countries also agreed to contribute 35 million euros to finance a border control program in Libya, according to a joint declaration released by the Hungarian prime minister’s office on Thursday.

The prime ministers of the Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia have also offered their cooperation in the implementation of the program, and voiced their conviction that the migration pressure on Europe can only be eased by protecting the external borders and removing the causes of migration.

The funds are aimed at facilitating a border protection program managed by the Italian government with assistance from the European Commission.

The prime ministers of the Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia have also offered their cooperation in the implementation of the program, and voiced their conviction that the migration pressure on Europe can only be eased by protecting the external borders and removing the causes of migration.