Unease in Brussels as on July 1, 2024, Hungary, led by Viktor Orban, takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Union for six months.
**Brussels, 1 July 2024** – Concern is growing in Brussels among some of the 27 EU member states. After Belgium, Viktor Orban’s Hungary takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Union for six months starting this Monday. With concerns about democratic backsliding and links to the Kremlin, the Hungarian presidency is causing unease, especially as France is also facing concerns about the victory of the far right in the first round of the legislative elections.
Budapest promises impartiality
In Budapest, the government is trying to reassure its partners. “We will act as an impartial mediator, with full loyalty to all member states,” Hungarian Minister for European Affairs Janos Boka said in mid-June. “At the same time,” he added, Hungary will use the spotlight to present its “vision of Europe.”
On issues such as the rule of law, immigration and the conflict in Ukraine, Hungary is keen to make its differences heard, leading to repeated clashes with its partners and the freezing of billions of euros of European funds.
After Hungary’s last EU presidency in 2011, Viktor Orban boasted of giving “friendly elbows, slaps and punches” to the “excited tormentors” of the European Parliament, which he regards as a haven for “liberals and leftists.” This time around, the 61-year-old leader appears even more combative, criticizing “the Brussels technocratic elite” and issuing numerous vetoes in recent months to block military aid to kyiv.
Orban’s losing battle against von der Leyen
However, Viktor Orban failed to influence key EU appointments last week. Despite his opposition, leaders agreed to extend Ursula von der Leyen’s term as president of the European Commission. As for the European Parliament, the Hungarian prime minister remains far from having significant influence. In the recent European elections, he lost seats and his party, Fidesz, remains among the non-attached. Nevertheless, negotiations are underway with other central European parties.
In Brussels, Viktor Orban plans to focus the Hungarian presidency on seven priorities, including strengthening the bloc’s “economic competitiveness,” better combating “illegal immigration” and bringing the Western Balkan countries closer to EU membership. Experts, however, do not expect a very ambitious agenda as the new Commission takes office.
The rotating presidency allows the presiding country to control the agendas of the 27 meetings, an important but not absolute power, according to several European diplomats. Hungary will, however, have an important communication role to play. The presidency’s slogan, “Make Europe Great Again”, has already sparked controversy, echoing the campaign slogan of former US President Donald Trump, whom the Hungarian prime minister hopes to see re-elected in November.
Originally published in The European Times.
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