Hungary to prepare EU’s 2025 budget

The finance ministry stands ready to fulfil the important task of the upcoming presidency of drafting the EU’s 2025 budget, Mihály Varga, the finance minister, said after meeting Thomas Westphal, director-general for economic and financial affairs of the European Council, in Budapest on Tuesday. This year Hungary will take up the presidency of the European Union “for the second time amid challenging times”.

Varga added that the presidency would focus on challenges related to competitiveness and demographics, the ministry said in a statement.

Hungary to prepare the EU’s 2025 budget

The Hungarian presidency will need to find ways to increase the bloc’s competitiveness, the statement quoted Varga as saying, adding that efforts would be made to reduce “the growth and innovation gap” between the EU and its competitors.

“We want heightened focus on demographic problems which may fundamentally determine the continent’s future. Reversing negative demographic trends is one of the greatest challenges; that is why the Hungarian government is committed to supporting families,” Varga said, adding that Hungary’s family benefits in relation to economic output was the highest in the EU.

Varga said the EU should take a greater responsibility for Europe’s security, increase defence spending and reinforce border controls. He warned that illegal migration “must be stopped rather than managed”, and he urged the EU to increase its contribution to the related efforts of members states.

He said the EU could have a new common customs authority and database to “meet new challenges of e-trade,” the statement said.

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2 Comments

Norbert says:

24/04/2024 at 09:17

Question: how do our Politicians attribute Hungary´s modest success in boosting fertility (not even close to challenging France´s 1.8 plus – and remember we need 2.1)? How do they link fertility to the family policy? There is a high probably of a link, however I would be shocked if it is even possible to verify the impact of each measure and to check causality, Beyond nice to know, given the cost (“Please EU! Send us money so we can pay our teachers, doctors and nurses!”).

Interesting case: the United States has a high fertility DESPITE limited family policies. Uh. So there may be something else???
Questionable - Highly Debatable Rating : says:

24/04/2024 at 12:51

Question Beckons :
Varga Milhaly – Finance Minister of the Orban – Fidesz Government of Hungary, what he and his Prime Minister – Victor Orban, have DELIVERED Hungary, is a Financial and Economic catastrophic MESS – on-going.
The Nadir of there “joint” doing creation – un-known.
Varga Mihaly, role he will play, in the preparation of the European Union Budget for 2025 – will be OPEN for humongous criticism, for the STATE condition in Fact, which is the over-all Economic & Financial picture of a “Mine Field” which we know is Hungary.
Is Varga qualified to fulfil this ROLE ?
Does Varga have a CV that over 8 years in his Senior Ministerial Role as the Minister of Finance, does he have a “Curriculum Vitae” that has greater numbers of ticks as opposed to crosses – on it – in his Finance Management of Hungary ?
Answer : NO.
Varga’s CV – after he departs Political life in Hungary, sooner than later, it is hoped, his legacy, of what he GAVE Hungary, will be an UGLY read.