Hungary took over the presidency of the Council of the European Union last 1 July, and it will hold it until 31 December 2024. As 2024 is a year of transition, one of the main goals of the Hungarian Presidency will be ensuring the continuity of work in the Council, in cooperation with the newly established European Parliament and European Commission. The Hungarian presidency will also start the implementation of the Strategic Agenda 2024 – 2029, setting out the long-term guidelines for the Union´s future work.

Thus, the Hungarian Presidency aims to confront the current shared challenges, such as the neighbouring war, the fragility of international supply chains, natural disasters, climate change effects, illegal migration and the security situation. Please find below Hungary´s priorities for its Presidency:

• New European Competitiveness Deal

The Hungarian Presidency will place a strong emphasis on improving European competitiveness, integrating this objective into all policies, by applying a holistic approach. Its aim is to contribute to the development of a technology-neutral industrial strategy, a framework for boosting European productivity, an open economy and international economic cooperation, as well as a flexible labour market that creates secure jobs and offers rising wages in Europe, which is a crucial factor to growth and competitiveness.

Thus, the adoption of a New European Competitiveness Deal is a key priority of the Hungarian Presidency in order to restore economic development and create the conditions for sustainable growth, deepen the internal market, focus on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, promote the green and digital transition in partnership with European economic stakeholders and citizens, international cooperation, and ensure the stability and sustainability of jobs.

• Reinforcement of European defence policy

The Hungarian Presidency will place particular emphasis on strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base, including defence innovation and the enhancement of defence procurement cooperation between Member States, beyond the implementation of the Strategic Compass that defines the main directions of EU defence policy.

• Consistent and merit-based enlargement policy

Hungary considers crucial to ensure that the enlargement policy remains merit-based, balanced, and credible. Since the EU has long been committed to providing a European perspective for the Western Balkans, it is crucial to recognize that the Community will not be complete without the inclusion of this region.

Therefore, integrating the Western Balkans offers economic, security, and geopolitical advantages to the EU. To further extend and deepen our collaboration, we will invite our partners to engage in consultations through both the EU-Western Balkans Summit and the European Political Community.

• Stemming illegal migration

The migratory pressure that Europe has been facing for several years is not only a challenge to the Union as a whole but also places a huge burden on individual Member States, especially those at the external borders of the Union.

The Hungarian Presidency will pay particular attention to the external dimension of migration, including efficient cooperation with relevant third countries, more effective returns, and innovative solutions for rules on asylum. In addition, during the follow-up on the implementation of the annual priorities of the Schengen cycle, we intend to highlight the importance of external border protection and the need for EU funds for this purpose.

• Shaping the future of cohesion policy

According to 9th Cohesion Report, there are still significant development gaps between Member States and even within regions, considering that more than a quarter of the EU’s population lives in regions not reaching 75% of the Union’s average development level. The convergence of these regions is not only crucial in terms of fully utilising the competitiveness potential of the EU, but it is also essential for the proper functioning of the Single Market.

The Hungarian Presidency will aim for a high-level strategic debate on the future of cohesion policy, including its role in promoting competitiveness and employment, as well as in addressing demographic challenges.

• A farmer-oriented EU agricultural policy

The Hungarian Presidency will encourage the Agriculture and Fisheries Council to take advantage of the institutional transition period and guide the new Commission in formulating the rules of the Union’s post-2027 agricultural policy for a competitive, crisis-proof and farmer-friendly agriculture.

Promoting sustainable agriculture is a key priority to find a rational balance regarding the strategic objectives of the European Green Deal, the stabilisation of agricultural markets, and a decent standard of living for farmers.

• Addressing demographic challenges

The accelerating ageing of European societies, unsustainable social welfare systems, and labour shortages are long-standing and intensifying problems in all of Europe that need to be addressed urgently and effectively. Ageing society, green and digital transition, rural depopulation, increasing pressure on fiscal resources, and the changing world of work generate such demographic issues and challenges which need to be put into the spotlight.

These problems have become increasingly important for the competitiveness of the EU and the sustainability of public finances. The Hungarian Presidency intends to draw attention to these challenges following Commission’s demographic toolbox, published last October 2023.

• Key priorities regarding transport

In the field of transport, the Hungarian Presidency will pay particular attention to the promotion of better connectivity, both by geographically extending European networks and by creating better links between modes of transport, the greening of the sector, and the improvement of transport safety. Please find below the main areas in which the Hungarian Presidency will work:

• Promoting better intermodal transport connections – the discussion of the revised Passenger Rights Regulations and the Multimodal Passenger Rights Regulation is a key priority for the Hungarian Presidency.
• Improving connectivity – by extending transport networks North-South and creating new intermodal hubs will contribute to economic development, it may result in improving transport links and economic integration between regions.

The Hungarian Presidency has announced that the informal ministerial meeting on transport will focus on enhancing connectivity to the Western Balkans.

• Greening the transport – it will be promoted through the negotiation of the elements of the Greening Freight Transport These are meant to help improve rail infrastructure management (Railway Infrastructure Capacity Regulation), provide better information on greenhouse gas emissions from freight transport (CountEU Emission Regulation) and support the shift from road freight to lower emission modes (Combined Transport Directive).

The negotiation of the revised Directive on harmonised river information services (RIS) for inland waterways in the Community will help increase the efficiency of transport flows by improving traffic and transport management in inland waterway transport. 

• Consumer protection – The development of digitalisation has prompted the revision of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Directive. The Hungarian Presidency aims to take the file forward.

Regarding the revision of the Package Travel Directive – amended in response to the mass cancellation of package travels due to the Coronavirus pandemic – the Hungarian Presidency aims to agree on a General Approach and begin trilogue negotiations with the Parliament.