historical reconciliation
In parallel with the processes of economic and political integration in Western Europe – after German unification and the break-up of the Soviet Union – the Central European system of basic treaties came into existence, in which Hungary sought to secure and expand the minority rights of Hungarians living in neighbouring countries. Reconciliation programmes initiated with neighbouring countries in the context of Euro-Atlantic integration have been inspired by the experience of the French-German reconciliation process (cross-border economic cooperation; compiling a joint history textbook; youth links; networks of twin settlements). Since the 1990s these initiatives have been based on three pillars on the Hungarian side: 1. mutual historical reckoning; 2. mutual recognition of the collective rights of minorities; 3. elaboration of historical apologies, rehabilitation and reparations. In this process the most significant progress was made vis-a-vis Slovenia and Austria. Despite the progress of Slovakian-Hungarian scientific cooperation and the involvement of MKP (Hungarian Coalition Party) in the Slovak government, and later that of the Híd-Most Party, the issue of the Beneš decrees – which condemned Slovakian Hungarians as a community – and the related compensation could not be resolved. In the case of Romania the fundamental problem has been that while the Hungarian side is trying to implement an Austrian-Italian type of solution (see: autonomy of South Tyrol), the Romanian side considers the French-German relationship to be the model. In Serbia in June 2013 the two heads of state and the two parliaments issued a declaration condemning the atrocities of 1944–1945. In Ukraine the Hungarian aid policy (infrastructure investments, health care programmes, protection of Ukrainian cultural heritage) has not yet yielded results so far.