László Kövér called the unification of the nation across borders a key strategic goal in an interview published on Friday with the portal AzÜzlet.

National reunification and support for Hungarians abroad will continue even in the current, economically difficult times, and they will also create a new opportunity for those returning home from the diaspora: Homecoming Offices will be opened for those who wish to settle temporarily or permanently in Hungary, said the President of the Parliament.

László Kövér explained: he considers it a serious achievement that the Carpathian Basin Economic Development Program and its related activities succeeded in strengthening Hungarian entrepreneurs abroad. More and more of the decision-makers in the neighboring countries also realize that this is also beneficial for the local economy, because every forint economic development aid spent abroad increases the economic performance of the Carpathian Basin measured in terms of GDP by at least two forints.

The Speaker of the House called the unification of the nation across borders a priority strategic goal, also indicating that national unification will be continued, and that support for Hungarians living abroad will also continue.

"But in the current situation, the focus is obviously not on the launch of new large-scale investments, but on how we can protect the results already achieved with our existing resources and ensure the continuous operation of the Hungarian institutional system abroad"

he said.

He added that ensuring the activities of Hungarian organizations, institutions and churches that play a decisive role in the life of Hungarians abroad continues to be a priority.

László Kövér highlighted: as in the epidemic situation, neither in the difficult economic situation caused by the war sanctions, was any national political program abolished,

"in fact, there are areas where we even increase support for Hungarians living abroad".

The politician from the government party called the biggest achievement the strengthening of Hungarian entrepreneurs abroad. More than 60,000 businesses received development funds for their business within the framework of the Carpathian Basin Economic Development Program. These businesses employ a very large percentage of Hungarian people and provide Hungarian families with a chance to prosper in their homeland.

According to László Kövér, the other important step was to organize these strengthened enterprises into a network on which the Carpathian Basin economic space can be built. As an example, he mentioned that in 2019, thanks to the Mentoring Program for Large Entrepreneurs launched in Vojvodina, helping professional networks were already established in all regions.

"We see that there are significant advances in this as well. More and more people in the neighboring countries also realize, especially at the county and regional level, that if the Hungarian businesses operating in their country become stronger, it also brings about the strengthening of the given region.

- He told.

In response to a journalist's question, László Kövér explained: they see that local and regional knowledge and local and regional cooperation have significantly increased in value in the past period.

"... the Hungarian government is working to establish and, where already operating, to strengthen cooperation between Hungarian businesses"

he declared.

Turning to the Hungarians living in the diaspora, he reminded us: in 2010, it was formulated as an express goal that the people living in the diaspora could also join the life of the nation.

"We have reached the point where we are in continuous contact with the organizations of Hungarians living in the diaspora. In the Hungarian Diaspora Council - which already has almost a hundred umbrella organizations as members - we make the decisions that affect them together with them".

According to him, since Hungarian education is "one of, if not the most important" retaining force in the diaspora, special attention is paid to Hungarian weekend schools. Preserving the identity of second- and third-generation young people and strengthening their relationship with the motherland is also a priority goal.

He continued: there are several programs for this purpose, including the diaspora program of the Rákóczi Association, through which hundreds of young people come to Hungary as part of various summer camps and thematic programs.

"At the same time, for the younger generation, scouting is in many cases the only connection with Hungary, so we also give special support to scouting communities:

several investments and developments have been realized in recent years. In addition, the Diaspora School Camps are organized in many places around the world: last year too, more than four hundred and fifty camps took place."

- listed the speaker.

László Kövér emphasized: it is at least as important that every Hungarian, living anywhere in the world, feels at home in Hungary and knows that he can return home at any time.

"... they also open up a new opportunity for those returning home from the diaspora: We are opening Homecoming Offices for those who wish to settle at home temporarily or permanently. The design of these offices, which will operate in connection with government windows in several parts of the country, is already underway. The point is that it will provide one-stop administration for all matters necessary for resettlement"

- said the President of the National Assembly, also indicating that this is also a tool in the realization of the reunification of the nation.

MTI

Featured image: Tamás Katona/ ma7.sk