UK And Hungary Pledge Cooperation

UK and Hungary pledge cooperation

The UK and Hungary have pledged to work together within the EU to bring progress on economic, environmental and security issues.

In a joint statement, Gordon Brown and Hungarian PM Ferenc Gyurcsány said the EU had the opportunity to become a "truly global player" with the signing of the EU Treaty. Mr Brown welcomed his counterpart to Downing Street today for bilateral talks.

The two leaders promised to push forward economic reform to encourage "innovation and competition" and "meet the challenges" of a globalised economy.

The two leaders also promised to drive forward EU leadership on climate change at the forthcoming Bali summit and to take "urgent action" on poverty and development by adopting a "fresh approach" to the Millennium Devleopment Goals. The EU should also establish itself as a leader in delivering "peace. prosperity and security" to the wider world.

Mr Brown and Mr Gyurcsany also said that the current status of Kosovo was "unsustainable" and called for a settlement to be found "without delay".

Joint statement with Prime Minister of Hungary

At the Informal European Council in Lisbon, Europe's leaders agreed a Reform Treaty. The enlarged European Union now has the chance to become a genuinely global player.

The EU must set a delivery agenda on issues that matter to its citizens - such as jobs, growth, climate change and security. We reaffirm our commitment to pursuing the necessary economic reforms at all levels that will enable Europe to meet the challenges of an increasingly globalised economy. We can drive forward the EU's global competitiveness by promoting innovation and competition, reducing the burden of regulation, and pressing ahead with proposals to liberalise the telecommunications and energy markets . And with strong, dynamic economic foundations, we can build modern social policies that combine flexible labour markets with our shared social values.

The EU has a responsibility to deliver global leadership on tackling climate change. We must maintain international momentum on climate security by implementing the measures agreed at the Spring European Council, and by leading the global response to climate change at the UN Conference in Bali this December. We should also take urgent action on global poverty and international development, through a fresh approach to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and with all Member States delivering on their commitments. The EU must continue to show leadership towards achieving a successful, pro-development outcome to the Doha Round of trade talks, which is a priority. A WTO deal will not only help in our efforts to achieve the MDGs, but will also boost EU competitiveness and growth. And we should continue to support reform and stability across Europe's neighbourhood by championing EU enlargement, which has brought prosperity to Europe and security beyond its borders.

At the December European Council, EU leaders will again have the chance to deliver for Europe's citizens. The time is right for Europe's leaders to set the global agenda and become world leaders in delivering peace, prosperity and security, not just within the EU's borders but in the wider world. To this end we call for the Council to adopt a forward looking and ambitious declaration setting out the new priorities for the European Union on the agenda of Globalisation.

On Kosovo, we reiterate our full support to Ambassador Ischinger and his Troika colleagues as they go the last mile in the search for a resolution to Kosovo's status. Kosovo is a European security issue from which we cannot walk away. We fully support the UN Secretary-General's assessment that the status quo is not sustainable and call for a settlement to be found without delay.

ENDS

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