German economic players see V4 countries as allies, says economy minister in Berlin

Berlin, October 2 (MTI) – Germany’s economic players consider the Visegrad countries as their allies, Economy Minister Mihaly Varga told MTI in Berlin on Monday.

Earlier in the day, the minister addressed a conference of the Osteuropaverein der deutschen Wirtschaft, the German foreign trade association, and met Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel and Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble.

Germany has realised that cooperation with the Visegrad Four – Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia – can help its economy to become even more competitive, he said.

The two sides agreed on close cooperation in the economic aspects of digital transition, namely the rise of the “4.0 industry” or the fourth industrial revolution, Varga said.

Concerning the diesel scandal of the Volkswagen concern, they acknowledged that the car market “has not experienced the changes expected previously”, the minister said.

Concerning progress in the European monetary union, Varga said that the 19 euro zone members should only make decisions that are acceptable to the nine non-members, too. Germany will continue to support this endeavour, which is an “important message” to Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters