Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai held talks with Matthias Platzeck Minister President of Brandenburg. Minister President Platzeck, who has recently been re-elected and who has a strong sympathy towards our country, visited Hungary on the occasion of the 19th Hungarian - German Forum. 

The parties informed each other about the Hungarian and German domestic politics, paying special attention to the federal and state elections which took place at the end of September in Germany. The two Heads of Government reviewed the actual challenges of the global financial and economic crisis, and the measures that have already been made in the field. Minister President Platzeck praised the Hungarian Government's achievements in the economy. They agreed that closer cooperation and coordination is needed among the European partners to handle the crisis more effectively. An important element of this is the deepening of the traditionally intensive Hungarian - German relations. 

The two sides exchanged opinions on the recent European and international developments. They both welcomed the steps taken to advance the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, which according to their views will give new stimulus to the European integration process. In connection with this, they talked about the new assignments and personal decisions brought about by the Lisbon Treaty. Moreover, Gordon Bajnai informed his partner about Hungary's approach in the European Union's Danube-strategy and its central role in the 2011 Hungarian EU-Presidency.