He also denounced criticism of Johnson’s appointment because he has not adopted conventional diplomatic tools. On Thursday, European Parliament President Martin Schulz criticised the composition of Prime Minister Theresa May’s new cabinet.

The European Union is up against some extraordinary challenges and overcoming these will require real personalities with real ideas, like Johnson, Szijjártó said. He noted that Johnson would represent the UK at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday.

At the meeting, Szijjártó said, he would tell Johnson in person that Hungary wants economic and trade cooperation with the UK to remain as free from obstruction as possible and that it wants to defend the rights of Hungarians working in the UK.

Szijjártó also welcomed the appointment of Johnson’s predecessor, Philip Hammond, as chancellor of the exchequer.

The minister added that he had discussed important European questions one-on-one with Hammond on a number of occasions.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.

MTI photo: Kovács Tamás