Hungary Holds Rotating Presidency of the EU

Starting from July 1st, Hungary will hold the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union for six months.

The presidency of the Council is held by a different EU member state every six months. During this six-month period, the rotating presidency chairs Council meetings at all levels, ensuring the continuity of the EU’s work in the Council.

Member States holding the presidency work closely together in groups of three, called presidency trios. The system of presidency trios was introduced by the Lisbon Treaty in 2009. The members of the trio set long-term goals and prepare a joint program, defining the topics and essential issues that the Council will address during the 18-month period. Based on this program, each of the three countries prepares its own more detailed six-month plan.

The current trio consists of the Spanish, Belgian, and Hungarian presidencies. The presidency of the Council is not elected: the individual countries hold this position in succession. This means that every member state, regardless of its size, takes its turn, every 13 and a half years.

The system of rotating presidencies can be traced back to the cradle of European integration. Every six months, a different member state holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU. In this capacity, it helps to ensure the smooth running of the EU legislative process.

The presidency is responsible for promoting legislative work in the Council: it must ensure the continuity of the Union’s program, the regularity of legislative processes, and cooperation between member states. To carry out its tasks, the presidency must act as a fair and neutral mediator.

With the exception of the meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council, the presidency chairs the meetings of the various formations and preparatory bodies of the Council. The preparatory bodies include permanent committees, such as the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper), as well as working groups and committees dealing with very narrow areas of expertise.

The presidency ensures the orderly conduct of meetings and the proper application of the Council’s rules of procedure and working methods.

In addition, it organizes formal and informal meetings in Brussels and in the country holding the rotating presidency.

The presidency represents the Council in relations with other EU institutions, particularly in contacts with the Commission and the European Parliament. In this regard, its role is to try to reach an agreement on legislative proposals through trilateral consultations, informal negotiations, and conciliation committee meetings.

The presidency closely coordinates with:

• The President of the European Council
• The High Representativeof the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

In addition to supporting the work of the two officeholders, the presidency may occasionally be asked to carry out certain tasks, such as representing the Foreign Affairs Council in the European Parliament or chairing the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council when it discusses, the President of the European Council, and the President of the European Parliament.

From July 1st, Hungary will hold the rotating presidency of the EU for six months. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has chosen the slogan “Make Europe Great Again” as the motto of his presidency.

Hungary’s presidency program is built around the motto “Stability and Growth”. The government’s goal is to help the European economy recover from the crisis, strengthen the EU’s competitiveness, and ensure the safety and well-being of citizens.

One of the priority areas of the presidency is to strengthen economic growth and competitiveness. Hungary wants to promote the digital transition, the development of the green economy, and the support of small and medium-sized enterprises. The government’s goal is for the EU to become a world leader in technological innovation and to be at the forefront of climate protection.

Energy policy will also be of paramount importance during the presidency. The energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine has highlighted the risks of the EU’s energy dependence and necessitates increasing the share of renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency.

The issue of migration continues to divide the EU. Hungary emphasizes the importance of protecting external borders and establishing effective return mechanisms. During the presidency, the government will strive for the EU to develop a more unified and effective migration policy.

In the field of security and defense, Hungary urges the strengthening of the EU’s defense capabilities and a more effective fight against terrorism and cybercrime. The government considers close cooperation with NATO important and supports the idea of creating a European army.