Orbán cabinet: the EU Commission may act contrary to voters’ will

The strategic priorities of the European Union’s next cycle should be decided with the voters’ will in mind, Hungary’s EU affairs minister said on Tuesday in Luxembourg, adding that voters had clearly expressed their will at the last European parliamentary elections.

János Bóka told a press conference after a meeting of EU affairs ministers that the past five years had been spent with the European Commission “trying to force through the green transition agenda in spite of European industry, economic players and citizens, rather than in cooperation with them.”

Regarding the common agricultural policy and green transition, the EU “is part of the problem, not the solution”, he said. Farmers’ protests and statements from the sector had made it clear that change was needed, Bóka added.

The minister said the EU should also consider whether the migration pact adopted at the end of the now closing cycle was truly handling the challenges of the crisis.

“Hungary doesn’t see it that way, and the Hungarian government is at the opinion that there’s a need of a more effective protection of the external borders and of strategic partnership agreements with partner states, as well as with states of origin and transit. Otherwise, the European institutions will carry on with their political lines of the past five years, without taking the will of the voters in consideration,” he said.

Hungary ready to take over presidency

Hungary is prepared to taking over the rotating presidency of the EU, despite “the challenging times in which it is shouldering it”, and has managed to prepare a programme that will foster dialogue between member states and EU institutions, he said.

Tuesday’s meeting also tabled a proposal for discussion that would make it possible to bring transparency over foreign influence in EU member states. “Hungary has first-hand experiences on the dangers of foreign players influencing the internal affairs of a member state, and the clandestine ways it can happen”.

“It is in all our interest that voters could make political decisions with all relevant information at hand,” he said.

The meeting also heard Hungary in connection with the EU’s Article 7 procedure under way against it, the minister noted.

Bóka said the hearing had given him an opportunity to “rectify false information” on issues such as the Sovereignty Protection Office, the child protection law, and the general operation of the Hungarian legislative process. “I hope the new information will refine the incorrect and unbalanced image that western press reports … have created about Hungary,” he said.

Hungary pursues strong Europe policy

Hungary is pursuing a strong Europe policy and represents a clear European alternative, the minister in charge of EU affairs said on Wednesday, adding that “this vision for Europe must be reflected in our work”.

Bóka said on Facebook that during Hungary’s upcoming EU presidency “we will act as a fair intermediator that loyally cooperates with all member states and institutions”.

“At the beginning of a new institutional term, we can initiate a debate and show direction in matters that are important to us,” he said. Hungary viewed the task “as an opportunity and an obligation”, he added.

Commenting on the work that Hungary was facing, he said 122 legislative dossiers were expected to be brought over from the previous presidency. Within these, progress is planned to be made in 55 dossiers in the Council and in 30-35 dossiers during talks between the Council and the European Parliament, he added.

He also said that some 1,500 Council working group meetings were planned to be held, and 37 formal meetings in Brussels and Luxembourg.

Also, 230 events will be held in Hungary connected to the presidency, including 16 informal Council meetings, an informal European Council meeting and the European Political Community summit. Boka also noted that Hungary has been an EU member for 20 years and it had already fulfilled the presidency once, 13 years ago.

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