Hungary chief of staff meets EUMC head

At a press conference after the talks, Borondi said the visit was “the overture to the military programme of the Hungarian EU presidency”.

Regarding the military priorities of the Hungarian presidency, Borondi said the EU Strategic Compass programme should be supported in the areas of crisis management, military capabilities and the development of the defence industry. He said it was important to develop Europe’s rapid response forces, adding that the Hungarian presidency would support Europe’s defence technology and industrial funds. “Hungary’s defence industry is an integral part of that,” he said, adding that Hungary would contribute to setting up the first European combat group in 2025.

Borondi said the Western Balkans continued to be a priority for Hungary and its armed forces, noting that this year, for the first time in the history of the EUFOR Althea operation, a Hungarian commander is in charge of the EU’s military mission there.

Hungary supports an informal document signed by Austria, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands aimed at “putting the Western Balkans in the European Union’s centre of focus to an even greater extent”, Borondi said.

The Hungarian military will host European Union member states’ chiefs of staff in October and present Hungary’s military capabilities at the Brave Warrior exercise, Borondi said.

Brieger said his visit was aimed at reinforcing cooperation, and his talks focused on issues closely related to EU common security and defence policy.

“The current situation in Ukraine and at the Red Sea definitely required a personal meeting,” he added.