Hungary’s rotating presidency in the European Union is a challenge for Brussels

According to the international group Tasnim news agency, German newspaper “Stuttgarter Nakhreshten” wrote in an article: As a staunch critic of the European Union, Hungary will soon assume the rotating presidency of the European Union in the second half of this year. Takes a term of the Council of the European Union. This means that for the first time an authoritarian government is at the head of an important institution of the European Union. However, in 2023, the European Union Parliament voted in favor of a resolution that questioned Hungary’s ability to hold the prestigious presidency of the Council. Will it go?

Expert ministers of the member states are present in the Council of the European Union. This council is responsible for legislation. Every six months, a member country of this union assumes the responsibility of chairing this council and presides and prepares meetings. Sonia Priebus, who researches Hungary’s political system at the European University in Frankfurt-Oder, said: “This means that the presidency cannot decide on issues, but it can delay or prioritize them.” Ultimately, it aims to mediate disputes between member states. Therefore, the chairmanship of the Council is more than symbolism. At the same time, its power is limited: the Council can neither propose laws nor set EU priorities. Hungary’s rotating presidency begins in July after European elections, when few legislative proposals are expected.

However, there is currently an ice age between Brussels and Hungary. Taking positions against the European Union is part of the political strategy of Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of this country. According to Brussels, his government is systematically destroying democracy in Hungary. The European Commission has blocked billions of funds for this country and has taken action against this country for violating the fundamental values ​​of the European Union. Orban, who is close to Russia, has repeatedly blocked EU projects – notably support for Ukraine. “It undermines the EU’s credibility,” says Priebus The country shows itself as hostile and is largely isolated among the members of this union.

Here the question is whether Hungary may be prohibited from holding the rotating presidency of the European Council.

Pribus said: “The Council of Europe, that is, the heads of the member states, could have intervened and with a qualified majority, they could have changed the order of this Presidency. But, according to him, there was never an official discussion by the Council.”

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Representatives of the European Parliament voted in favor of suspending Hungary’s presidency of the European Union last year on the pretext that the country’s values ​​are not compatible with European values.

Hungary is one of the member states of the European Union. Brussels has many challenges in relation to it. This country usually emphasizes the advancement of independent policies in domestic and international affairs, and it is also not aligned with the European Union in its stance on the war in Ukraine and tries to advance its own policies.

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