The EU presidency changes “hands” and passes to your Hungary Viktor Orbánfor the next semester.
The Hungarian presidency is viewed with suspicion by the European Parliament and many Member States, due to Budapest’s serious problems with the rule of law, but also due to Orbán’s good relations with Vladimir Putin.
Anyway Hungary declares that she is willing to assume “the obligations and responsibilities” of her mission, which will last until December.
“We will act as impartial mediators, with full loyalty to all member states,” Hungarian European Affairs Minister János Bóka said in mid-June, presenting his country’s program. “At the same time,” he added, Hungary will use the spotlight to promote “its vision for Europe.”
Welcome Hungary @HU24EU who has just assumed the presidency of the Council.
It will be an exciting six months!#HU24EU pic.twitter.com/lujYkGZKIx
— EU Council (@EUCouncil) July 1, 2024
After all, how many funds were frozen by the Commission for Hungary due to the rule of law.
After Hungary’s last presidency in 2011, Orbán remarked with satisfaction that he had given “friendly nudges, slaps and slaps” to the “enthusiastic executioners” in the European Parliament, a nest, as he describes it, of “liberals and leftists”.
This time, the 61-year-old prime minister appears even more combative, speaking of a “technocratic elite” in Brussels and exercising a series of vetoes in recent months to block military aid to Kiev.
He had promised to “occupy Brussels” after the European elections, which he described as “historic”. He also expressed his dissatisfaction with the way in which candidates for the main positions in the institutions were chosen, aligning himself with Georgia Meloni, who he considers to have been marginalized.
Orban: We cannot support party agreement to share key seats in European institutions
New Eurogroup
However, Orbán’s Fidesz continues the processes with other Central European parties.
The Hungarian Prime Minister announced yesterday, Sunday, from Vienna, his intention to form the Eurogroup “Patriots for Europe” together with the Austrian nationalist Freedom Party (FPO) of Herbert Kickl and the populist ANO of the Eurosceptic former Prime Minister -Czech minister Andrej Babis.
He needs the support of four other countries to be successful in his training.
Seven priorities
Hungary’s presidency will be based on seven priorities, including strengthening the EU’s “economic competitiveness”, better responding to “illegal immigration” and progressing the accession process of Western Balkan countries.
The rotating presidency, which allows a country to control the agenda of the 27 meetings, gives it considerable but not absolute power, according to many diplomats.
Even more so because Belgium and the European institutions have established safeguards so that serious decisions can be taken.
New EU sanctions against Russia were approved and “historic” accession negotiations began with Ukraine: two decisions that Hungary did not agree with.
EU: Make Europe Great Again, the… Trump-inspired slogan of the Hungarian presidency
The motto of the Hungarian presidency? “Make Europe Great Again”, “borrowed” by the former US president donald trump.
For the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2024, the Hungarian government chose a logo based on a world-famous Hungarian invention, the Rubik’s Cube.
Hungary is proud of Ernő Rubik as one of the world’s most important inventors of the Rubik’s Cube. The 3D puzzle game was invented in 1974. This year it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
The cube symbolizes the ingenuity, creativity, strategic thinking and sophistication of the Hungarian nation, as noted by Budapest. “Assembling the cube correctly requires strategic vision, patience, discipline and precision – all qualities necessary for the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.”
The holder of the rotating presidency of the EU Council is expected to be a neutral broker and set aside his national interests to ensure EU legislation is passed. European politicians, however, fear that Budapest will use its prominent position to its advantage while seeking a face in key policy areas.