RTVS | Hungary takes over the Presidency of the EU

From this day Hungary holds the Presidency of the EU. It takes over the Presidency from Belgium and will set the European agenda until the end of the year. The Hungarian Presidency says it wants to find real solutions to real problems. But some analysts fear that important issues, including support for Ukraine, could take a back seat. Martin Vokálek, executive director of EUROPEUM Institute, comments for RTVS.

According to the motto [Make Europe great again], it seems that Hungary sees Europe in some kind of crisis, or at least a small one, and that this is a problem it wants to change. It uses this motto, which has been used by Donald Trump and some other populist politicians. It is important to realise that during the six-month Presidency of the EU that Hungary has now begun, it is not about Hungary somehow remaking Europe and changing it to make it great again. They have to play a completely different role, that of a fair broker who will allow individual steps to be taken as needed for compromise.

The full interview can be found here.

Martin Vokálek
Executive Director

Expertise: Economic issues, European security and NATO, war crimes and international law problematic