Hungary’s contribution to the European Union’s activity in Syria, EU–Syrian Cooperation Annual Report 2010-2011
EU-Syria economic cooperation
By re-establishing the framework of the Hungarian – Syrian economic cooperation Hungary is making efforts to actively supporting the economic reforms in Syria. Hungary is of the view that Syria can benefit significantly from the experiences of the relatively recent transitions of the central - eastern European countries by collecting and evaluating good examples and to avoid mistakes. Hungary in November 2010 has received H.E Mr. Abdullah Dardari, Deputy Prime Minister and a Syrian business delegation. During the talks among them the Hungarian banking system, investment possibilities and privatization experiences were high on the agenda.
Environment and Sustainable Development
MOL/INA Hungarian-Croatian oil and gas company is about to open Syria second largest Gas Treat Plant at Hayan. The main focus is on early start up of Gas Treat Plant (GTP) and finishing the necessary field activity to be able to provide maximum feed for the plant. Recently the Mechanical Completion of GTP was approved, which allows to enter fuel gas to GTP. The start up time was in November. The GTP opening can be around February - March in 2011. Field activity focus on finalizing work-over on wells of Jihar field, completing and put on production the four wells of Al Mahr field and finalize drilling program of Mazrur-2 well. Hungarian companies are also participating in implementing Syrian environmental projects.
Health
The Hungarian Pető András Institute has developed a conductive educational system to open up a new way for the rehabilitation of motor disordered children and adults whose dysfunction was due to damages to the central nervous system. This approach was first taught and practised in the Institute named after him. The focus of this method is that in addition to damages of the central nervous system, motor disability is mainly due to the lack of co-operation among different functions. The mission of the Institute provides assistance to the Syrian Amal Al-Ghad (“Hope of the Future”) Children’s Institute which was established with similar goal and to share the Hungarian Institute’s teaching methods and help individuals suffering from injuries to the central nervous system and assist their families on the way to a full life and to make society aware of the opportunities to help.
The Association of Syrian Doctors of the Hungarian Medical Association with the assistance of the Hungarian-Syrian company, Biotech each year are sending a medical team to Syria to show and share the latest modern method and technology of orthopaedic surgery in various Syrian hospitals. The medical experts also organize conferences on medical expertise, too.
Education, culture
Hungary has participated at the EU “Study in Europe Day” event. Several universities exhibited their offers and hold introductory lectures on their program. Rectors of various Hungarian universities with different curricula maintaining regular contact with the Damascus and other Syrian universities in order to learn more about each other’s situation and to emphasize the role of science and research in development of a country.
The Syro – Hungarian Archaeological Mission (SHAM) in close cooperation with the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums and the Péter Pázmány Catholic University:
Hungary in close cooperation with the Syrian Ministry of Culture is also considering to provide assistance to the building up of Syria wide music schools and music teachers centres, which has proven play an outstanding role in the children’s development and bringing up.
Al-Massa Center for Studies and Information in Hungary continues to publish a monthly cultural and economic magazine, called “Blue Danube”, covering Arab related news, Arab and Islamic studies in Hungary.