Brussels – “Make Europe great again” is the slogan chosen by Hungary for its six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union. Organized by the International Press Association (IPA), the presentation for Hungary’s six-month presidency was held today (June 18) at the Residence Palace in Brussels. After Belgium, it is Hungary’s turn to preside over EU Council meetings from next July 1 until December 31. Outlining the intentions and plans for the coming months was Bálint Ódor, Hungary’s ambassador and permanent representative to the European Union. Seven topics were listed as priorities: competitiveness of the single market, defense policies, EU enlargement, combating immigration, the future of cohesion policies, agriculture, and demographics. But what has caused a stir is above all the choice of slogan.
The Hungarian European Council presidency motto “Make Europe great again” is a clear reference to overseas politics and the slogan used in the 2016 election campaign by former President Donald Trump. However, Bálint Ódor wanted to specify that the phrase is meant to refer to 2011, when Hungary first assumed the presidency of the Council. Despite this, the symbol chosen by the Budapest government is also indicative: a Rubik’s cube with the European flag on one side and the Hungarian flag on the other.
Hungary’s presidency will, therefore, begin on July 1, immediately after the conclusion of the next European Council scheduled for June 28–29. For the ambassador, the Hungarian semester will be an opportunity to highlight priorities that have been forgotten, such as the enlargement of the Schengen area. In this regard, Bálint Ódor stated that: “we will make a decision by the end of the year for the entry of Romania and Bulgaria.” As far as EU enlargement is concerned, the Hungarian presidency maintained that it would strive to continue on the path leading to the entry of new countries, both those in Eastern Europe (Ukraine and Moldova) and in the Balkans (Montenegro, Bosnia, Albania) but also Armenia.
Among the priorities highlighted as the most pressing is the fight against illegal immigration and the need to reform the European market. The ambassador said that the best method to prevent the arrival of immigrants is through cooperation with neighbouring countries. Regarding the economy, on the other hand, Bálint Ódor evaluated positively the report by Enrico Letta, which proposes new tools to stimulate the competitiveness of the domestic market. At the same time, the Hungarian presidency wants to support more small and medium-sized enterprises that are undergoing green and digital transitions.
Bálint Ódor pointed out how Europe has changed in recent years, and the number of files the Hungarian presidency has open on the table is significantly higher than those received in 2011. Asked how Viktor Orbán’s government will act during these six months, the ambassador said that “we will be honest mediators and follow the principle of cooperation between member states and institutions”.
Despite these declarations, the motto “Make Europe
great again,” which prompted countless satirical posts on social media,
continues to capture everyone’s attention.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub+++ Trump sues the Hungarian Presidency for copyright infringement pic.twitter.com/fK7rHWzPBz
– DG MEME (@meme_ec) June 18, 2024
