On July 1, Hungary takes over the rotating EU presidency. What does the fact that its most skeptical member stands at the head of the Community mean for the EU?
No one was particularly surprised when Hungary revealed its official motto for the six-month EU presidency - "Making Europe Great Again". But the fact that it is strongly reminiscent of Donald Trump's motto did not please many.
Hungary's ultra-nationalist populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is a close ally of the former US president and the biggest Eurosceptic among EU heads of state and government. Over the past ten years, his government has constantly clashed with officials from the EU and other member states - over EU migration, over the violation of the principles of the rule of law and democracy in Hungary, and over military support for Ukraine.
During a number of important votes, Budapest used its veto power and delayed the implementation of policy measures that all other EU countries had already agreed on. Due to concerns related to the protection of the principles of the rule of law and democracy, the EU froze billions in aid intended for Hungary, but later released part of it after the implementation of reforms. And just recently, Hungary was fined 200 million euros for violating EU asylum law.
"We will be an honest broker"
The task of the EU presidency, which rotates every six months, is to mediate between the 27 member states, leaving national interests in the background. Furthermore, the country in charge is responsible for progressing EU legislation. In this regard, the European Parliament questioned Budapest's ability to cope with this task.
In June last year, parliament overwhelmingly adopted a resolution that looked at how Hungary could tackle this task given that it itself does not adhere to EU law. But the objections were not binding and did not lead to consequences.
On July 1, 2024, Hungary takes over the presidency of the EU from Belgium, and so until the end it will also represent the other member states in the negotiations with the European Parliament and the European Commission.
At a press conference in Budapest, the Hungarian Minister for European Affairs Janos Boka assured that his country will effectively fulfill the tasks of the presidency. "We will act as an honest mediator who cooperates loyally with all member states and institutions," he stressed. According to him, during its presidency, Hungary wants to increase the economic competitiveness of the EU, strengthen the defense policy, pursue a coherent enlargement policy and reduce illegal migration through better protected borders and more effective extraditions in cooperation with countries outside the Community.
Among other intentions, Boca highlighted the reorganization of the cohesion fund, which should help reduce the gap between richer and poorer regions, as well as a more farmer-oriented agricultural policy, taking into account protests against EU climate measures . Hungary plans to tackle demographic challenges as well.
Boca also announced the official motto "Making Europe Great Again", which strongly resembles Trump's similar slogan. It emphasizes "the expectation that together we should be stronger than separately, but also that we should be able to remain who we are when we come together,", Boca explained.
Country "rebel" at the head of the EU?
"I am afraid that the Hungarian presidency could only strengthen the idea that even if it does not follow the rules, a member state that is a "rebel" can continue to benefit from the Community, the professor told DV in European Law Alberto Alemanno. He believes that the EU presidency should have been denied to Hungary.
According to Alemanno, Hungary could influence the accession negotiations for membership with Kiev. "I think that the issue of opening the negotiation chapters will not be raised at all during the Hungarian presidency." The lawyer also expects clear consequences regarding the EU's climate protection measures - especially in relation to the 2030 targets, on the basis of which the EU wants to achieve zero emissions by 2050. The expert recalls that the Hungarian government has often criticized the " ;The Green Deal" and the EU climate agenda. And in the context of the results of the European elections and the performance of right-wing parties in them, a climate-protection-skeptic country at the head of the EU can reflect on the positioning of the Community as a whole.
Just a provocation?
However, the influence of the EU presidencies should not be overestimated. The largest part of the legislative initiatives comes through the EC and is approved by the member states and the European Parliament.
A Western European diplomat, who requested anonymity, tells DV that it is likely that the next six months will pass quite normally. He is convinced that "Orban and his people are aware that other EU countries will step in and take over if the Community agenda is shaken." In addition, the diplomat points out: "They mostly use the platform to provoke to some extent. As with their motto. It is up to us to be disciplined enough not to be swayed."
Meanwhile, Viktor Orbán's party "Fidesz" announced together with the far-right Austrian Freedom Party and the populist Czech movement "Action of Disgruntled Citizens" (ANO) the creation of a new political union in the EP, which will be called "Patriots for Europe". This became clear on Sunday, June 30. They invite other European parties to join it. To create a new group in the EP, allies from four more countries must be included.