Hungarian EU affairs minister: EU Presidency brought about ‘historic decisions’

Notwithstanding “multiple crises, a transitional institutional period of severe political headwinds and institutional obstruction”, Hungary brought about “historic decisions” under its EU presidency, János Bóka, the EU affairs minister, told a press conference on Tuesday.

Hungary’s EU Presidency

He noted the Budapest Declaration aimed at boosting the bloc’s competitiveness following an unanimous decision by EU leaders, the full Schengen membership of Romania and Bulgaria from Jan 1, and the twin summits held in Budapest on Nov 7-8, namely that of the European Political Community and the informal meeting of the European Council, “the biggest diplomatic event in Hungary’s history”.

Fully 39 formal council meetings were held in Brussels and Luxembourg during the presidency, while 14 informal ministerial meetings were held in Budapest, including the first meeting of ministers responsible for demography, Bóka noted.

Also, nine political trialogue agreements were ushered through the European Parliament under Hungary’s presidency, he said, also noting the adoption of a council declaration on the fight against anti-Semitism. Regarding the Budapest Declaration, Bóka said the document set out specific expectations with deadlines, though the Hungarian government was disheartened by early signals regarding its implementation, he added.

The minister also noted the adoption of strategically important policy decisions such as the ministerial declaration on the future of the common agricultural policy and cooperation in justice and home affairs. The presidency, meanwhile, oversaw the institutional transition so that EU institutions and their new leaders could start operating on Dec 1, he said. Hungary was fair mediator, he said, yet it also presided over a strong political presidency that demonstrated the need for change and “the possibility of a real European alternative”.

The current Polish EU Presidency should take these initiatives forward, he said, adding that it did not bode well, however, that Poland was “mixing its bilateral and internal political conflicts” into its presidency. Bóka said the US presidential election and changes in the European Parliament presaged change, which “must be forced through by member states, including Hungary”. He added that 2025 was therefore likely to be a year of conflicts.

Bóka noted that a permanent team for the EU’s common security and defence policy had been set up under the Hungarian presidency. He said the working group had completed preparations for a common European defence industry strategic concept but “could not get over the threshold” in the European Council. He said he trusted the subsequent Polish presidency could complete the task before preparations for the next seven-year budget.