ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT, MARY ROBINSON TO THE IRISH HUNGARIAN ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION ON 13TH JULY
ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT, MARY ROBINSON TO THE IRISH HUNGARIAN ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION ON 13TH JULY, 1994
Mr. Chairman, Ambassador, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure to be with you today at the annual luncheon of the Irish Hungarian Economic Association and the presentation of the award for the outstanding contribution to Irish/Hungarian economic relations.
During my visit to Hungary last November I had the opportunity to experience at first hand the remarkable changes which have taken place in such a short period of time. With the re-establishment of fully democratic institutions incorporating respect for human rights and the rule of law, Hungary has resumed its rightful place in the family of free nations. Ireland was particularly pleased to welcome Hungary as the first of the new democracies of central and eastern Europe to become a full member of the Council of Europe. Ireland has been equally pleased with the intensification of Hungary's relationship with the European Union.
Following the dramatic changes which took place in 1989, Hungary looked to the European Union as an anchor of stability and a source of inspiration for the necessary reforms that had to be put in place. For its part the Community responded rapidly to support the political and economic reforms that were instituted in Hungary and the other countries of the region.
At the same time the Community sought to foster the sense of belonging to the wider European family of democratic peoples by creating new political and economic ties.
The Association Agreement between Hungary and the European Union was first envisaged at the Dublin Summit during Ireland's last Presidency in 1990. Ireland was also the first of the European Union states to ratify the agreement. It has now come into effect and provides a dynamic framework for relations between the European Union and Hungary.
In the meantime, the Copenhagen European Council last year looked forward to Hungary's eventual membership of the European Union. On 1 April this year Hungary formally applied for membership and the application has been referred in the usual way to the Commission for an Opinion.
I am convinced that it is in all our interests to do everything we can to contribute to the building of a stable, prosperous and peaceful Europe. Indeed the success of the European Union will to a large extent depend on the degree to which it can be a positive factor for our fellow Europeans throughout the continent who face challenges of historic proportions.
The Association Agreements make an important contribution in this regard. They provide an appropriate framework for partnership, an accelerated opening of markets and a programme of practical assistance. At Corfu a few weeks ago, the European Council further defined the Union's relations with Hungary and the associated countries of central and eastern Europe; the Corfu conclusions envisage making use of the Association Agreements and a range of additional measures to prepare these countries for accession.
Since the historic breakthrough in 1989 there has been a quantum leap in contacts between Ireland and Hungary. Both in its own right and as a member of the European Union, Ireland has been pleased to contribute to Hungary's economic transformation. Irish services companies are active in a variety of sectors including banking reform, modernisation of the power and telecommunications utilities, agriculture, labour training and tourism. There is also interest in Ireland in investing in Hungary and one of our leading companies has established a joint venture in the dairy sector. Many of these activities will create strong and, I am confident, enduring relationships which will help to develop further the bilateral economic relationship between our two countries.
It is gratifying that in key areas of economic development, Hungarian agencies and enterprises have turned to Ireland as a partner country. It is perhaps not all that surprising. A common factor in each of these co-operative activities is that they draw on Ireland's recent experience of economic development, an experience that has relevance to the economy of Hungary. The relatively recent modernisation of our infrastructure has given Irish companies considerable expertise in coping with the financial and logistical demands of such large scale investments. In addition our own economy is small, open, heavily dependent on trade and keen to attract good foreign investment.
Trade is the oldest form of international cooperation. I am glad to note that the trade relationship between Ireland and Hungary, though still small, has expanded in the last few years as have general business and economic contacts. The Irish Trade Board has opened an office in Budapest and I am pleased to note that it is also involved with the activities of the Irish Hungarian Economic Association. Indeed the fact that this association now has over one hundred members is testament to the widespread interest in this new and growing economic relationship.
Irish interest in Hungary is not confined to our economic relationship. What is particularly gratifying is the growing number of fields in which we are increasingly engaged at a bilateral level. Earlier this year I had the pleasure of meeting a delegation of parliamentarians from the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Hungarian National Assembly who were visiting Ireland for a series of meetings with their Irish counterparts. During my meeting in Budapest with President Goncz last November, he revealed his love for the Irish writers John Millington Synge and Sean O'Casey and informed me of plans to establish a University Department of Irish literature at Eotvos University. Cultural contacts at all levels have increased in recent years, as have contacts between academics and students particularly in the context of the European Union's TEMPUS programme.
Today, we have an opportunity in the changed geopolitical situation in Europe to develop the potential of our relationship to the full. The economic and trade relationship is obviously a very important part of this. And it is in this area that the Irish Hungarian Economic Association has a particular role. I applaud your goals in seeking to promote investment, trade and tourism between our countries and to facilitate the exchange of experience between our business people and companies.
Thank you for the opportunity to address the Irish Economic Association today. I wish you every success in your endeavours.