Arminas Lydeka, Deputy Chair of the Committee on European Affairs, concludes: the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU is failing

Press release, 28 October 2024 (News ● Photos ● Broadcasts and video recordings)

On 27–29 October 2024, Arminas Lydeka, Deputy Chair of the Committee on European Affairs, takes part in the Plenary Meeting of the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs (COSAC) in Hungary. 

Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary, who was supposed to present the results of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, was absent because he left for Georgia to congratulate the pro-Russian party Georgian Dream on the electoral victory. At the start of the new institutional cycle, Hungary, which holds the Presidency for the second time, singled out as many as seven priorities for its Presidency of the Council of the EU. Unfortunately, support for Ukraine was not included among them. Haven taken the floor instead of Mr Orbán, János Bóka, Minister for European Union Affairs of Hungary, said that ‘current EU policies are moving towards self-destruction, while what Hungary is doing is to make Europe great again.’ Make Europe Great Again is the motto of the Hungarian Presidency. Meanwhile, the representatives of the EU Parliaments were highly indignant and critical about the Hungarian Presidency, stating that the Hungarian leaders act without a mandate in contradiction to EU values and fail to represent a common position of the EU.

While speaking at the conference, Arminas Lydeka underlined that Hungary had failed to live up to its promise to maintain impartiality and seek cooperation among EU countries. ‘Hungary’s conduct exceeded our worst fears as we see discord, disregard for the EU’s position, meetings with leaders of the terrorist Russia, and ignoring Ukraine, whose victory is essential for our security,’ Ms Lydeka said. 

‘The work programme has seemed ambitious enough to cover particularly important topics such as EU enlargement, competitiveness, migration, and defence industries. However, what is missing is the most important question agreed by all the remaining Member States: how can we help Ukraine win the war? Ukraine has shown outstanding commitment not only by defending Europe and its values, but also by implementing the necessary reforms. Its victory, economic stability and transformational success are in our interest. Ukraine’s victory is an essential pre-condition for the EU’s future success,’ Ms Lydeka stressed.

COSAC (Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs) is a conference of the committees on European affairs of the national parliaments of the EU Member States and members of the European Parliament. This is the largest and most important event of the committees on European Affairs of the national parliaments of the EU Member States held for discussing the most important matters on the EU agenda. Discussion on the results of the Presidency of the Council of the EU is a traditional item on the agenda of each Plenary Meeting of COSAC.

EU Member States hold the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU for six months each. During this six-month period, the Presidency chairs the meetings of the Council of the EU at all levels and contributes to ensuring the continuity of the work of the Council of the EU. For the work to be effective, the Presidency Member State must act neutrally in the interests of the EU as a whole, rather than just national priorities. The Presidency Member State, in cooperation with other institutions, plays a vital role because it is only though joint efforts that the EU can achieve positive results.

Hungary is holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU from 1 July to 31 December 2024. 

Elzė Kolelė, Adviser, Office of the Seimas Committee on European Affairs, tel. +370 5 209 6498