Hungary has assumed the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union for a six-month term, with a key focus on boosting EU competitiveness. Just before the start of its presidency, Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced the formation of a new alliance named "Patriots for Europe" during an event in Vienna, according to reports from the Xinhua news agency.
Orban, along with Herbert Kickl of Austria's Freedom Party (FPOe) and Andrej Babis of the Czech party Action of Dissatisfied Citizens (ANO), unveiled this alliance. The group, which includes Orban's Fidesz party, aims to become the largest coalition on the European right but requires support from lawmakers in at least four other EU member states to form an official group in the European Parliament.
Questions have arisen about reactions from other right-wing groups like Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) in France and Germany's AfD party, which were recently excluded from the Identity and Democracy group in the European Parliament.
During Hungary's EU presidency, which officially began on Monday, European Union Affairs Minister Janos Boka outlined seven top priorities. These include bolstering EU competitiveness, enhancing European defense policy, facilitating EU enlargement, managing illegal migration, shaping future cohesion policies, developing an agriculture policy beneficial to farmers, and tackling European demographic challenges.
Boka emphasized that these priorities align with the desires of European voters, underscoring that the results of recent European parliamentary elections signaled a clear call for change.
The minister highlighted the significance of EU competitiveness and European security and defense policies, stating, "Enhancing Europe's peace and security are critical."
Hungary's EU Presidency is guided by the motto "Make Europe Great Again". Zoltan Kiszelly, Director of the Center of Political Analyses at Hungary's Szazadveg Institute, expressed expectations that Hungary will play a pivotal role in setting the agenda and leading discussions in the months ahead.
Read also | India Joins Global Citizen Astronaut Initiative with SERA and Blue Origin
