Next year Hungary plans to issue 200,000 visas to Ukrainian citizens

Following the proven trends, the Director of the Regional Branch of the National Institute for Strategic Studies in Uzhgorod Svitlana Mytryayeva initiated and launched a new format for Transcarpathia – the so-called "Tea with the Ambassador." The first guest of such a meeting with representatives of Transcarpathian expert and scientific elite was the Ambassador of Hungary to Ukraine Mihaly Bayer, the "Novyny Zakarpattya" reported.  

The new format of communication and relationships – informal communication or "a cup of tea with Mr. Ambassador" – will allow to work in an informal environment to better understand each other’s positions, and maybe to discuss issues that are not entirely suitable to be raised in an official protocol. Particular attention was paid to the European integration of Ukraine, also they spoke on the economy, education and scientific cooperation.

The Ambassador reiterated his country’s support of Ukraine and said: "More Ukrainians understand that it is a clear position and Ukraine can confidently rely on the Hungarian support.The second point is the economic cooperation. Hopefully, the trade between the two countries this year will exceed $ 4 billion. There is a new area of ​​our cooperation – gas pumping from Hungary to Ukraine (9.2 million cubic meters per day). Hungary is also the largest importer of Ukrainian electricity. Also there is a successful cross-border cooperation and contacts in the humanitarian sphere. In April and May of next year, by the way, the Days of the Hungarian culture will be held in several regions of Ukraine."

According to the ambassador, during the year, consular establishments of Hungary plan to issue more than 200,000 travel documents to Ukrainians (160,000 Schengen visas and 40,000 local border traffic permits). "This is a visible contribution to the rapprochement of our peoples, to the promotion of tourism in the EU and the Schengen area" – the diplomat said.