From this Monday, July 1, Hungary assumes the rotating six-monthly presidency of the Council of the European Union, for the second time in its history.
As President of the Council, Hungary’s mission is to ensure the driving of the European agenda and the promotion of collaboration between member states.
As 2024 is a year of transition, the Hungarian presidency must deal with the new configuration and priorities of the European institutions resulting from the European elections of June 9.
It will thus have to ensure the continuity of work within the Council, in cooperation with a newly created European Parliament and a European Commission, and will have to begin the implementation of the Strategic Agenda 2024 – 2029, adopted last week by the heads of State and government of the 27 and setting the long-term orientations for the future work of the Union.
“Hungary assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union at a time of extraordinary circumstances and challenges: Our continent faces common challenges due to the war in our neighborhood, the growing delay of the EU compared to its global competitors, a fragile security situation, illegal immigration, the vulnerability of international supply chains, natural disasters, the effects of climate change and the impact of demographic trends,” she said. in its work program, published on this occasion.
Hungary, which is running its presidency under the slogan “Make Europe Great Again”, has promised to work as an “honest broker, in a spirit of sincere cooperation between member states and institutions, for the peace, security and prosperity of a truly strong Europe.
“We will act as an impartial mediator, in complete loyalty with all member states (…). And at the same time, Hungary will take advantage of the light to put forward its vision of Europe,” declared the Minister of European Affairs Janos Boka, during the presentation of the program.
During these six months, the Hungarian presidency set six priorities: Adopt a new European agreement on competitiveness, strengthen European defense policy, promote a coherent and merit-based enlargement policy, fight against illegal immigration, develop a European agricultural policy centered on farmers and meeting the demographic challenges faced with the accelerated aging of European societies.
In order to ensure the continuity of the European agenda and the coordination of the Council’s work, the rotating presidencies are exercised by a group of three Member States, called the “trio of presidencies”.
Hungary will therefore cooperate with Belgium and Poland. The Belgian presidency preceded the Hungarian presidency, which then gave way to the Polish presidency.
It is also necessary to distinguish between the Council of the EU, which brings together the competent ministers, and the European Council, which brings together the heads of state and government of the 27 Member States of the EU. The European Council only defines the general political direction of the EU and leaves it to the Council of the EU to legislate.