From July 1st to December 31st of 2024, Hungary will preside the Council of the European Union. Within the first few weeks of taking office, the Hungarian presidency had already generated significant controversy after Prime Minister Viktor Orbán embarked on a solo “peace mission” to negotiate a ceasefire in the Ukraine war, meeting with world leaders Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Donald Trump. This approach has been seen as a violation of EU diplomatic protocols, prompting calls for penalties against Hungary and potentially even an early termination of its Council presidency. To fully grasp the impact of the Hungarian Council Presidency on the EU, it is crucial to evaluate Hungary’s priorities and international diplomatic efforts.

What is the EU Council Presidency and Why is it Important? 

The EU Council is one of the main decision-making bodies of the European Union, collaborating with the European Parliament and the European Commission to shape and enact EU policies and legislation. The Council represents the governments of each of the 27 EU member states and is made up by the ministers of each country. During Council meetings, these ministers discuss and adopt laws pertinent to their areas of policy. For example, if the Council is addressing legislation related to public health, each member state’s Health Minister will participate.

The EU Council Presidency is a leadership position that rotates among EU member states every six months, meaning it is held by each country once every 13 years. The presiding country sets the Council’s agenda, facilitates negotiations among member states, and represents the Council in interactions with other EU institutions. This role is crucial as it provides each member state an opportunity to enhance its visibility and influence within the EU, thus contributing to deeper integration and cooperation among member states.

Hungary: An Honest Broker or a Diplomatic Disruptor?

Orbán has portrayed himself as one of the few world leaders who can speak to both sides of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Although these diplomatic trips have been of bilateral nature, Orbán has created the impression that he is representing the EU by displaying EU flags in Kyiv and using the Hungarian presidency logo on promotional materials for his trip to Beijing. Moreover, Chinese and Russian media have incorrectly reported that Orbán traveled as an EU representative, sparking outrage among EU leaders and heads of government for violating EU protocols and undermining the Union’s unity

Thus far, the EU has stripped Hungary of its right to host the next meeting of foreign and defense ministers, which will now take place in Brussels from the 28th to 30th August, as a symbolic measure to show collective disapproval with Hungary’s foreign policy objectives. Furthermore, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has chosen to boycott informal EU Council meetings hosted by the Orbán government ministers. Commissioners will only take part in formal Councils where legislative decisions are made, held in Brussels and Luxembourg and only the highest-ranking Commission officials will attend the informal gatherings. Other measures that have been discussed include terminating the Hungarian presidency, withholding EU funds, and the invocation of Article 7, which suspends Hungary’s EU voting rights. Nonetheless, such actions are unlikely due to their potential to undermine the rotating presidency principles and difficulties in obtaining member state unanimity and amending EU treaties.

Priorities of the Hungarian Council Presidency

Although Hungary’s position on the war in Ukraine has perhaps been the most discussed aspect of its presidency, it is important to highlight the Hungarian Council presidency priorities presented within its program. Hungary has pledged to act as an “honest broker” and to focus on fostering cooperation for Europe’s “peace, security, and prosperity.” The presidency program highlights key EU issues, including strategic autonomy, security, migration, international supply chains, natural disasters, climate change, and demographic trends.

The program focuses on the following seven key action areas:

• New European Competitiveness Deal
  • Enhance EU productivity and competitiveness.
  • Address high inflation, public debt, energy prices, and supply chain issues.
  • Develop a technology-neutral industrial strategy.
  • Promote an open economy and international cooperation.
  • Ensure a flexible labor market with secure jobs and rising wages.
  • Support SMEs and promote the green and digital transition.
• Reinforcement of European Defence Policy
  • Improve Europe’s defense capabilities and crisis management responsiveness.
  • Strengthen the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base.
  • Promote defense innovation and procurement cooperation among member states.
  • Implement the Strategic Compass for EU defense policy.
• Consistent and Merit-Based Enlargement Policy
  • Maintain a merit-based, balanced, and credible enlargement policy.
  • Focus on the integration of the Western Balkans.
  • Hold consultations within the EU-Western Balkans Summit and the European Political Community.
• Stemming Illegal Migration
  • Address migratory pressure through cooperation with bordering countries and key origin and transit countries.
  • Curb illegal migration and human smuggling.
  • Improve returns and develop innovative asylum rules.
  • Highlight the importance of external border protection and secure EU funds for this purpose.
• Shaping the Future of Cohesion Policy
  • Reduce regional disparities and ensure economic, social, and territorial cohesion.
  • Promote competitiveness and employment.
  • Address demographic challenges, especially in underdeveloped regions.
• Farmer-Centered EU Agricultural Policy
  • Promote sustainable agriculture and balance the objectives of the European Green Deal.
  • Stabilize agricultural markets and ensure a decent standard of living for farmers.
  • Formulate a post-2027 agricultural policy for a competitive and crisis-proof agricultural sector.
  • Ensure food security and sovereignty.
• Addressing Demographic Challenges
  • Highlight issues such as aging populations, labor shortages, and rural depopulation.
  • Address impacts on EU competitiveness and public finance sustainability.
  • Utilize the Commission’s demographic toolbox to tackle these challenges.

Public Health Priorities:

Regarding public health, the Hungarian presidency mentions the following priorities within its program:

• EU Pharmaceutical Package
  • Continue negotiations on the EU pharmaceutical package.
  • Aim to establish competitive, sustainable, and patient-centered pharmaceutical regulation.
• Cardiovascular Disease
  • Prioritize action against cardiovascular disease with Council Conclusions on this issue.
• Organ Donation
  • Reflect on practical issues of organ donation with the adoption of the SoHo Regulation.
  • Address these issues through Council Conclusions, high-level conference programs and the informal EPSCO Council.
• Mental Health
  • Explore links between mental health and various emergencies.
  • Provide a focus on women’s mental health issues in the area of gender equality.
• Rare Diseases
  • Discuss rare diseases at the EU level.
  • Promote a European Action Plan on Rare Diseases.
• Afforability of medicines through Member State cooperation
• Healthy Lifestyles
  • Promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles.
  • Align priorities with the EU Sport Work Plan and the European Sports Model.
  • Emphasize sport’s role in national identity, community building, and its social, educational, cultural, and health-promoting functions.

Overall, the Hungarian presidency highlights the EU’s systemic challenge to address member state deviations and serves as a critical test of existing mechanisms to conserve cohesion amongst its member states. If the EU is unable to successfully deter Orbán’s disruptive foreign policy endeavors, not only could it further fragment the EU’s current stance towards Russia, but also set a dangerous precedent for future EU council presidencies.

Despite the controversy, Hungary has outlined an ambitious agenda focusing on a wide range of key EU issues. However, the effectiveness of Hungary’s presidency will largely depend on its ability to navigate current internal disputes and align its actions with the broader objectives and values of the EU.