Hungary in Presidence of E.E.

The Republic of Hungary is taking over the rotating Presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2011. This will be a unique exercise for Hungary which joined the European Union six years ago. After the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty the role of rotating national Presidency is also changing, so our Presidency will have to be carried out in a transitory period when new institutions are consolidating their positions and a new division of labor is evolving in the EU. Hungary is already part of the so called Trio Presidency with Spain and Belgium which is also a special formation: a first of its kind. Madrid, Brussels and Budapest have harmonized their Presidency priorities and presented a joint working program for the duration of a one and a half year period. This brings additional stability and continuity to the activities of the EU amidst the new institutional changes. Our ultimate goal with our Presidency is to contribute to a more efficient and competitive European Union on a rapidly changing global environment.

The policy agenda for the Hungarian EU Presidency will be shaped by the progress made during the Spanish and Belgian Presidencies, the various events, which culminate during that period and also by some unexpected developments. Currently there is a transition in Hungary after the parliamentary elections of April, 2010. The new Hungarian Government is expected to be set up by the end of May. Since there has been a multiparty consultation and consensus about the basic elements of our Presidency program, with the active participation of the parties of the opposition, we should not expect dramatic changes from the new government. However they might set new accents, bringing new ideas into our program.
The Hungarian Presidency priorities are as follows:

1. Managing further the post-Lisbon strategy, Europe 2020. This has an even greater importance in the light of the crisis of the eurozone and the promising new decisions to improve the provisions and the functioning of the Zone. Hungary is not yet member of the eurozone, but inspires to be one. We currently undergo a severe convergency program in order to meet the Maastricht criteria. Hungary has made a significant progress in this field, the budget deficit for 2010 is 3.8 % of the GDP. (This is down from almost 10 % in 2006.) While we are beginning to see positive signs of recovery of the European economies, we have to maintain our concerted efforts in order to find the best exit strategy from the crisis and accelerate recovery and further development. With the goals of "Europe 2020" we can make a leap forward in making Europe more competitive and also socially more adaptive to the global changes.

2. According to the traditional timetable, the discussion about the next EU budget for 2014-23 should start during our Presidency. The Commission would present its proposal possibly next spring so we would administer this very important debate.

3. Further enlargement of the EU. Hungary has always been a strong advocate of further enlargement since we have learnt from our own experience that the further inclusion of other European countries can not only extend the zone of stability and prosperity to the whole Continent, but would also give additional resources and dynamism for the EU. For this purpose, we would welcome aspirants who are best prepared for inclusion, fully committed to get integrated into the EU. We are confident that the Western Balkans is an original part of Europe and its countries should get included into our community as soon as possible. It is important however, that they meet the criteria and would not weaken the cohesion of the EU, but contribute to its diversity and development.

4. Eastern Partnership is our other geographical neighborhood which we would like to give a special attention to. The next summit of the Eastern Partnership countries would take place during the Hungarian Presidency. This would give a new opportunity to make an overview of progress so far and of new projects to be initiated in this framework in the future.

5. Preservation of natural resources, Danube Strategy. Hungary has been very active in contributing to the European Commission's paper on the Danube Strategy, which should be published towards the end of 2010. The European Council in the spring of 2011 should approve the Danube Strategy which would be the second regional strategy of the European Union after the Baltic Strategy. In this framework we would like to give a new impetus and a better coordination of various projects in the whole Danube region, spanning across the European continent in the field of transport, communication, energy, water management, shipping, cultural diversity, etc. The DS would engage actively those countries which are situated on the banks of the River Danube, either already members of the EU or still outside of it. The concept is however open to all member states. Beyond the DS Hungary would like to focus on the preservation of natural resources, among others an EU-wide water management policy. Please note, that 2011 will be the International Year of Forests, which gives additional opportunities in this respect, especially with Greece.

Greece can find many connecting points to these Hungarian priorities. The post Lisbon Strategy has become essential in order to find a concerted exit from the present economic crisis and to make the EU more competitive and economically successful. We would like to continue our cooperation with Greece in the debate about the next EU budget as we did so during the previous one. We count on Greece's active involvement in pushing the enlargement agenda further, especially in the case of the Western Balkans. During our Presidency, in March 2011 Romania and Bulgaria will join the Schengen zone. I am sure this will give again substantial ammunition for our cooperation with Greece. We have welcomed the interest of Greece to contribute the development of the Danube Strategy.

From the Thessaloniki port, for example, with combined transportation you could easily reach the Danube section in Bulgaria, thus finding a new corridor for Greek products towards the center of Europe. Hungary and Greece has a traditional, strong partnership with a lot of potential. In the past few months we have shared our experiences in the crisis management, shown solidarity with the difficult situation of Greece and expressed our conviction that the far reaching reforms will eventually bear fruit. I am convinced that during the Hungarian EU Presidency our cooperation will be further enhanced for the benefit of our nations.

 

 

- ΑΝΝΑ ΖΩΗΡΟΥ, Σύμβουλος ΛΑΟΣ σε θέματα Οικονομικών & Διεθνών Σχέσεων

- ΠΕΤΡΟΣ ΛΕΩΤΣΑΚΟΣ,  Δημοσιογράφος, τραπεζικός συνάκτης

- ΝΙΚΟΣ Γ. ΣΥΚΑΣ, Σύμβουλος Στρατηγικής & Επικοινωνίας

- JΟRGE ALEJANDRO MASTROPIETRO, Ambassador of Argentina

- ΣΤΑΥΡΟΣ. ΛΑΜΠΡΙΝΙΔΗΣ, Υπουργός Εξωτερικών - Ομιλία στο ΥΠΕΞ στις 28/7/2011
- SVERRE STUB, Ambassador of Norway
- MEHDI HONARDOOST, Ambassador of Iran

- DRAGAN ZUPANJEVAC, Ambassador of Serbia

- VOLODYMYR SHKUROV, Ambassador of Ukraine

- ΕΝΩΣΗ ΔΙΠΛΩΜΑΤΙΚΩΝ ΥΠΑΛΛΗΛΩΝ
- STEPHEN G. MILLER, Επίτιμος Καθηγητής του Πανεπιστημίου Berkley, Καλιφόρνια, ΗΠA

- ΝΤΕΪΒΙΝΤ  ΛΑΝΤΣΜΑΝ, Πρέσβυς της Μ. Βρετανίας στην Ελλάδα

- ΔΗΜΗΤΡΗΣ ΜΩΡΑΪΤΗΣ, Εκδότης του περιοδικού "Politistiki Diplomatia"

- ΠΑΝΟΣ ΠΑΝΑΓΙΩΤΟΥ, Χρηματιστηριακός τεχνικός αναλυτής διευθυντής GSTA/ EKTA

- ΣΑΒΒΑΣ ΚΑΛΝΤΕΡΙΔΗΣ
- ΔΗΜΗΤΡΗΣ ΜΩΡΑΪΤΗΣ Εκδότης του περιοδικού 'Politistiki Diplomatia'
- ΙΩΑΝΝΗΣ ΚΥΡΙΑΖΟΓΛΟΥ, CICA, M.S, B.A(Honours),  Σύμβουλος  Πληροφορικής και Συγγραφέας
- JOZSEF TOTH, Ambassador of Hungary 

- ΑΓΓΕΛΟΣ Ι. ΜΑΛΦΑΣ, Dottor.

- JAN VODERADSKY, Ambassador of Slovakia
- MANDISA DONA MARASHA, Ambassador of South Africa    

- ΙΕΡΟΘΕΟΣ ΠΑΠΑΔΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ, Εκπρόσωπος της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής στην Ελλάδα

- ΝΙΚΟΣ ΧΑΡΔΑΛΙΑΣ, Δήμαρχος Βύρωνα
- MΕHDI HONARDOOST,  Αmbassador of Iran to Grecce

- ΧΑΪΔΕΥΤΟΣ ΚΟΜΝΗΝΟΣ, Πρόεδρος της Ομοσπονδίας Ελληνικών Κοινοτήτων Σουηδίας

- VILI SHEFKI MINAROLLI, Αmbassador of Albania to Greece
- ΔΗΜΗΤΡΗΣ ΜΩΡΑΪΤΗΣ, Εκδότης του περιοδικού 'Politistiki Diplomatia'
- SINE RIISAGER, The Danish Institute
- ΓΙΑΝΝΑ ΔΕΣΠΟΤΟΠΟΥΛΟΥ, Πρόεδρος Special Olympics
- FIDEL CASTRO
- ΚΩΣΤΑΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ, Πρόεδρος Ομοσπονδίας Γερμανικών Κοινοτήτων - Ταμίας ΣΑΕ

- ΝΙΚΟΛΑΟΣ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ, Αναλυτής, ΜΑ σε Διεθνείς Σχέσεις

- ΓΙΩΡΓΟΣ ΑΜΠΑΤΖΗΣ, Πρόξενος της Γερμανίας στην Πάτρα

- ΜΑΡΙΝΑ ΔΟΥΛΑΜΗ, Επίτιμος Προξένος της Γαλλίας στην Αλεξανδρούπολη

- EUSEBI AYENSA, Instituto Cervantes de Atenas

- CAPOCCI, Προέδρος του Ελληνο-Ιταλικού Επιμελητηρίου

- ΜΑΡΙΛΕΝΑ ΚΟΠΠΑ, Ευρωβουλευτής ΠΑΣΟΚ

- ΕΥΔΟΞΙΑ ΠΑΝΤΑ, Πρόεδρος Ομοσπονδίας Ελλήνων Βελγίου

- ΗΡΑ ΠΑΠΑΔΟΠΟΥΛΟΥ, Director of Cultural Affairs of the Hellenic American Union

- VALERIY TSYBUCKΗ, Ambassador of Ukraine to Greece

- HAKAN MALMQVIST, Ambassador of Sweden to Greece

- AΡΙΣΤΟΤΕΛΗΣ ΘΩΜΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ, Προέδρος HELEXPO A.E.

- To άσβεστο 'ΟΧΙ' των Ελλήνων
- Ν.Δ.: Διάσπαση ή Εσωστρέφεια;

- ΠΟΛΥ ΒΛΑΧΟΥ, Διευθύντρια Πολιτιστικού Οργανισμού Ηλιούπολης
- ΝΙΚΟΣ ΧΑΡΔΑΛΙΑΣ, Δήμαρχος Βύρωνα
- ΙΩΑΝΝΗΣ ΜΟΥΡΜΟΥΡΗΣ, Καθηγητής ΔΠΘ