Austria wins Hungarian support

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_727000/727551.stm

Austrians have protested against the Freedom Party The Austrian chancellor, whose government has been ostracised by the European Union, has paid a one-day visit to Hungary.

Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel expressed support for Budapest's bid to join the EU, and offered $110,000 in aid to flood victims in Hungary.

It was the chancellor's second foreign visit since the EU imposed sanctions on Austria in February because of the presence in the government of the far-right Freedom Party.

But the Hungarian Government made it clear that it intends to maintain close and friendly relations with its neighbour, although the Freedom Party has long opposed expanding the EU eastwards.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said after the meeting that he supported the reforms introduced by Austria's coalition government.

"We are separating its decisions taken so far from the political storm," he said, in reference to diplomatic sanctions imposed by the EU.

Difficult position

Since Joerg Haider's Freedom Party joined the government as the junior coalition partner, only Switzerland and Hungary have extended invitations to the chancellor.

Journeys by top officials between Budapest and Vienna have become so frequent over the past decade that the visit would previously have passed almost unnoticed.

The BBC's Nick Thorpe in Budapest says that Hungary regards Austria as its most important economic and political bridge to the EU, and is loath to do anything to upset its people.

Hungarian officials insisted that, while they shared EU concerns about Austria, they had no choice but to remain friends.

But opposition politicians warned that welcoming the Austrian leader could dash Hungary's EU hopes.

"The move amounts to a provocation against the EU and can unfavourably influence international opinion about Hungary," said the leader of the socialist opposition, Laszlo Kovacs.

Some commentators suggested that the visit also allowed the Hungarian Government to exercise mild criticism of Brussels.

Hungarian, Polish and Czech officials are increasingly frustrated with what they see as foot-dragging tactics by the EU in enlargement negotiations.

The target date of full membership by the beginning of 2003 is looking less and less likely.