Hongaars voorzitterschap presteert prioriteiten aan Europees Parlement (en)

The priorities of Hungary's Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers are being presented to European Parliament committees by Hungarian ministers at meetings on 24-27 January. This compilation will be updated daily during this week.

Economic affairs

Treaty change to set up a permanent bailout fund for Member States in difficulty, concluding the economic governance package and reviewing stability mechanisms, the first round of "European economic semester" policy co-ordination and the next set of financial services reforms will be the Presidency's key economic and monetary priorities, Hungary's finance minister Gyorgy Matolcsy told the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee on 24 January. Many MEPs pushed for commitments on plans for a financial transaction or activities tax and warned that it would be very difficult to conclude the economic governance package by June if Member States forged ahead without adapting to Parliament's position at an early stage.  

Immigration and asylum

Better managing migration flows, an efficient asylum system, the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area (once the technical requirements are met), and the fight against organised crime and terrorism are among the Hungarian Presidency's priorities, Interior Minister Sándor Pintér told the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee on 25 January. MEPs stressed the need for progress on the proposals for an asylum package, the single work and residency permit and on seasonal workers, so as to protect the fundamental rights of immigrants and asylum seekers in the EU. They also stressed the need to protect personal data, especially in the context of the passenger name record (PNR) negotiations with the USA.

Roma inclusion

Minister of State for Social Inclusion Zoltán Balog told MEPs that Roma issues are high on the agenda of the Hungarian Presidency. Presenting its priorities on 25 January, the minister listed the inclusion and active involvement of the Roma community, the fight against poverty, especially child poverty, and unemployment, better education and housing and better access to EU funds. Roma policies have a "massive social and economic interest" for the EU, the minister said, advocating an EU strategy for the Roma. MEPs backed the Presidency's priorities in this area, some urging that the EU should recognise the Roma genocide during World War II, others underlining the need for progress on the anti-discrimination directive, currently blocked in Council.