Debate of young Political Scientist’s at Cluj
Cluj gave home to this year’s edition of the Conference of the Young Political Scientists from the Carpathian Basin (FIPOLI) between 11 and 14th of November with the central issue of Hungarian interests in Central Europe with regard to strategic partnerships and Hungarians living outside the borders of Hungary. It is the first time the conference is held outside of Hungary.
On the opening day of the conference Gergely Prőhle, deputy Secretary of State in the Hungarian Foreign Affairs Ministry presented the priorities of the upcoming Hungarian Presidency of the EU with special regard to the opportunities to promote Hungarian interest. The second presentation of the day was held by local political scientists Miklós Bakk, Alpár Zoltán Szász and Barna Bodó, who presented the history and models of Hungarian community building in Transylvania.
Friday saw the presentation of the relations between the Hungary and Romania from a Romanian point of view; political scientists Gabriel Bãdescu and Gabriel Andreescu together with historian Ovidiu Pecican analyzed the Romanian state’s foreign affairs and minority policies. In the afternoon, the same relationship was analyzed from a Hungarian stand-point by Oszkár Füzes, Hungary’s Ambassador in Romania, MEP Csaba Sógor (DAHR) and sociologist István Horváth.
The presentation began with István Horváth’s review of the interstate relations in the first decade after the fall of the communist regimes, while Oszkár Füzes spoke about the current state of affairs between the two countries.
MEP Csaba Sógor discussed the Hungarian-Romanian relationship within a European dimension. He believes that the EU is striving to create a united Europe so cooperation with neighbor states is not enough, cooperation should be extended to all member states, given similarities in issues of agriculture, ecology, energy, social or minority issues. He pointed out the Danube Strategy that requires the cooperation of all the states along the Danube river and also emphasized that Poland can be a partner in Hungarian minority issues.
- We cannot be partners solely on strategic or minority issues, we need to cooperate on all levels – said the MEP. Csaba Sógor also considers that we cannot renounce our fundamental rights if the Romanian political elite are not open to adopting new legislation to serve the interests of the minorities. – It may be the case that our aspirations cast a shadow over the strategic partnership, but we need to be aware of this situation and continue to strive for decentralization, education rights, autonomy or even a law on minorities – explained the MEP.
Csaba Sógor believes that even though Romania has been lagging behind the West due to its particular historical, political and economic development, it is not impossible for the country to catch up to its pees. „We need to learn from our shortcomings and must exercise the successful practices implemented in the West. Good partnership can aid us in this respect” – said the MEP.
The Hungarian MEP from Transylvania also explained that we can only build a strong Hungarian-Romanian partnership is there is an even stronger Hungarian-Hungarian partnership in Hungary and beyond its borders.
The last day of the conference saw Zsuzsanna Répás, deputy Secretary of State in the Public Administration and Justice Ministry of Hungary present the Hungarian states’ concept about the national strategy, followed by Péter Kovács (DAHR) and Balázs Gergely’s (NCHT) debate about political representation of the Hungarian minority in Romania. The conference closed with Péter Egyed and Levente Salat’s discussion about the relation between the national interest and European identity.
Friday saw the presentation of the relations between the Hungary and Romania from a Romanian point of view; political scientists Gabriel Bãdescu and Gabriel Andreescu together with historian Ovidiu Pecican analyzed the Romanian state’s foreign affairs and minority policies. In the afternoon, the same relationship was analyzed from a Hungarian stand-point by Oszkár Füzes, Hungary’s Ambassador in Romania, MEP Csaba Sógor (DAHR) and sociologist István Horváth.
The presentation began with István Horváth’s review of the interstate relations in the first decade after the fall of the communist regimes, while Oszkár Füzes spoke about the current state of affairs between the two countries.
MEP Csaba Sógor discussed the Hungarian-Romanian relationship within a European dimension. He believes that the EU is striving to create a united Europe so cooperation with neighbor states is not enough, cooperation should be extended to all member states, given similarities in issues of agriculture, ecology, energy, social or minority issues. He pointed out the Danube Strategy that requires the cooperation of all the states along the Danube river and also emphasized that Poland can be a partner in Hungarian minority issues.
- We cannot be partners solely on strategic or minority issues, we need to cooperate on all levels – said the MEP. Csaba Sógor also considers that we cannot renounce our fundamental rights if the Romanian political elite are not open to adopting new legislation to serve the interests of the minorities. – It may be the case that our aspirations cast a shadow over the strategic partnership, but we need to be aware of this situation and continue to strive for decentralization, education rights, autonomy or even a law on minorities – explained the MEP.
Csaba Sógor believes that even though Romania has been lagging behind the West due to its particular historical, political and economic development, it is not impossible for the country to catch up to its pees. „We need to learn from our shortcomings and must exercise the successful practices implemented in the West. Good partnership can aid us in this respect” – said the MEP.
The Hungarian MEP from Transylvania also explained that we can only build a strong Hungarian-Romanian partnership is there is an even stronger Hungarian-Hungarian partnership in Hungary and beyond its borders.
The last day of the conference saw Zsuzsanna Répás, deputy Secretary of State in the Public Administration and Justice Ministry of Hungary present the Hungarian states’ concept about the national strategy, followed by Péter Kovács (DAHR) and Balázs Gergely’s (NCHT) debate about political representation of the Hungarian minority in Romania. The conference closed with Péter Egyed and Levente Salat’s discussion about the relation between the national interest and European identity.
