Hungary's EU Council Presidency: A Trump-Inspired Vision
Hungary is set to take over the EU Council Presidency on July 1, with a controversial slogan that echoes former US President Donald Trump's campaign motto. The Hungarian government's official motto for its presidency is 'Make Europe Great Again,' a clear nod to Trump's 'Make America Great Again.' This slogan reflects the close relationship between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Trump, who have publicly praised each other on multiple occasions. Orbán has described Trump as 'the president of peace,' while Trump has called Orbán 'the best leader' in history.
Key Priorities and Controversies
Hungary's EU Minister János Bóka has outlined the country's priorities for its presidency, emphasizing a new, competitive, farmer-centered agricultural agreement and more efficient protection of external borders. However, support for Ukraine in the ongoing war with Russia is notably absent from Hungary's agenda. Despite Hungary's cautious stance on the Ukraine conflict and its understanding towards Russia, there is no indication that Hungary will block Ukraine's EU accession. Balint Odor, Hungary's permanent representative to the EU, stressed the importance of EU enlargement and the need to balance the processes for granting candidate status to countries like Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia.
The Hungarian presidency has also faced skepticism from other EU member states and institutions. The European Parliament has even requested the Council to consider vetoing Hungary's presidency due to Budapest's frequent opposition to new EU rules and measures. Orbán's ultranationalist and conservative policies have led to multiple clashes with EU institutions, including a recent court ruling that fined Hungary for failing to comply with a 2015 Council agreement on Syrian refugees.
- The Hungarian presidency's logo, a cube inspired by the Rubik's Cube, features the Hungarian flag on one side and the EU flag on the other. This logo, along with the 'MEGA' slogan, was unveiled in a video posted on social media.
- Hungary's presidency comes at a challenging time for the EU, with ongoing issues such as the war in Ukraine, global competition, security threats, illegal immigration, natural disasters, climate change, and demographic challenges. Bóka acknowledged these difficulties and emphasized the need for a strong and active presidency to address these issues.
- Since returning to power in 2010, Viktor Orbán has been a contentious figure within the EU, often clashing with other member states and EU institutions over his nationalist and conservative policies. The EU has withheld billions of euros from Hungary for failing to combat corruption and uphold the European Charter of Fundamental Rights.
