Taoiseach visits Hungary to promote trade links

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will today pay a one-day visit to Hungary to promote trade links with the new EU member state.

Mr Ahern will jointly launch the Irish Hungarian Business Circle in Budapest with Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany.

The visit is part of an ongoing programme of bilateral meetings between the Taoiseach and Ireland’s EU partners.

A spokesman said “The objective of these visits is to further strengthen our political and economic links with EU member states.

“The visits also provide an opportunity to exchange views on current issues on the EU’s agenda.”

Mr Ahern is expected to discuss the ongoing negotiations on the EU budget and the future funding of the Common Agricultural Policy.

The current situation in the Western Balkans region will also form part of the discussions between the two Prime Ministers.

The Irish Hungarian Business Circle is a new organisation to promote business relations between the two countries.