On July 1, Hungary begins its six-month presidency of the European Union and will organize the work of the EU Council.
This was reported by the Hungarian Presidency of the EU, Suspilne informs.
Hungarian Minister for EU Affairs János Boka said that the Hungarian presidency will play the role of an “honest broker”, building constructive work with all member states and European institutions, taking into account the challenges currently facing the European Union.
Europe is facing common challenges of war in our neighborhood, global competition, a vulnerable security situation, illegal migration, natural disasters, the impact of climate change and the (challenging) demographic situation, — Boca said.
The Hungarian EU Presidency will build its program of activities on the basis of seven identified priorities:
- Adoption of the New European Competitiveness Agreement;
- strengthening the European defense policy;
- consistent and merit-based enlargement policy;
- ending illegal migration;
- shaping the future of cohesion policy;
- farmer-oriented EU agricultural policy;
- addressing demographic challenges.
By the end of 2024, the Hungarian presidency plans to organize the work of 1500 EU Council working groups and hold 37 formal ministerial meetings in Brussels and Luxembourg.
Hungary will propose another 230 events, which will take place mainly in Budapest. Among them are 16 informal meetings of the EU Council and one informal meeting of the European Council, as well as a summit of the European Political Community.
Earlier, the Hungarian government officially presented the program of the presidency of the EU Council starting July 1, which will have seven priorities.
They are focused on competitiveness, defense industry development, partnership agreements with non-EU countries that curb migration, “farmer-oriented agricultural policy,” and the future of cohesion policy. A special goal is to address demographic issues (such as population decline).
Hungary has also chosen a slogan for its presidency of the Council of the European Union. The phrase “Make Europe Great Again” echoes the words of former US President Donald Trump, “Make America Great Again”.
