Hungary backs updating EU-Turkey customs union, says FM Szijjártó in Ankara

It is in Hungary’s national interest for the EU-Turkey customs union to be updated, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Ankara on Tuesday.

After meeting Turkish industry and technology minister Mustafa Varank, Szijjártó told a joint press conference that Hungary wanted free and fair trade, which would be best served by the most comprehensive possible economic and trade cooperation between the bloc and Turkey.

He noted that Turkey’s economy is the world’s 18th largest and it was on track to becoming among the 10 largest.

Despite the global economic downturn, Hungarian-Turkish trade has remained buoyant this year, estimated to be worth 3 billion US dollars by year-end, he said.

In terms of central European energy security and the diversification of Hungarian gas supplies, Turkey is an important partner, he said, adding that