22/11/2019 (Agence Europe) – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stressed on Friday 22 November that having a Hungarian Commissioner for neighbourhood and enlargement in the person of Olivér Várhelyi was "Hungary's greatest diplomatic success in the last ten years". In an interview with Hungarian public radio Kossuth Radio, Mr Orbán said it would be the "most important" position in the next five years. With this portfolio, Hungary will be able to "strengthen their influence on European policies" in the fields of energy and migration, he said. Mr Orbán described Mr Várhelyi as "an excellent patriot and a good European". During his hearing, the latter had difficulty convincing MEPs of his independence from the Hungarian government (see EUROPE 12369/2). He had to reaffirm this independence in additional written replies (see EUROPE 12371/16). (CG)