Programma Hongaars voorzitterschap 2011 op individuele terreinen gepresenteerd in EP-Commissies (en)
According to the traditions, the rotating presidency’s ministers and state secretaries, who are presiding at various Council formations, presented the presidency’s programmes in individual areas to the European Parliament’s (EP) competent committees. The EP’s Brussels building hosted a total of 12 hearings on 25 January 2011.
Illegal migration, Schengen enlargement, Passenger Name Record
”The Hungarian Presidency wishes to give an impetus to the fight against organised crime”, stressed Minister for Internal Affairs, Sándor Pintér, before the EP’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.
Quantifiable Commitments for Roma Subsidies
Minister of State for Social Inclusion of the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice, Zoltán Balogh, said, „One of the Hungarian Presidency’s priorities is for the European Council to accept the EU’s Framework Strategy on Roma Inclusion”, to the EP’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and Committee on Employment and Social Affairs.
Sports cannot do without subsidies
At the hearing of the EP’s Committee on Culture and Education, Attila Czene, the Hungarian Government’s State Secretary for Sports, explained that the Hungarian Presidency’s work related to sport is determined by the Lisbon Treaty and the European Commission’s recent communication, released on 18 January.
Bartók's Birthday for European Day of Talent
Afterwards, the Committee on Culture heard Rózsa Hoffmann, Minister of State for Education, said, „The execution of the Europe 2020 Strategy is a chief objective of the Hungarian Presidency, to make Europe stronger, adoptive and competitive.
“I am positive that cultural resources will make European citizens consider the EU more than just an economic area”, said Géza Szocs, Minister of State for Culture of the Ministry for National Resources in summary of the Hungarian Presidency’s political priorities.
For the sake of a European healthcare
MEPs of the environmental committee asked Miklós Réthelyi, Minister of National Resources, about the Presidency’s healthcare programme. He also had a hearing in the Committee of Employment and Social Affairs.
“The Hungarian Presidency wishes to achieve results in the field of employment”, said Sándor Czomba, Minister of State for Employment of the Ministry for National Economy, to start his speech in the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs.
Participation and volunteering
“There is a need to improve standards in training and quality in education,” stated Miklós Soltész, State Secretary for Social, Family, and Youth Affairs of the Ministry for National Resources, before the EP’s Cultural and Education Committee.
Sustainable fisheries and strong agriculture
The EP’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development held a good spirited debate with Sándor Fazekas, Minister for Rural Development, who underlined the importance of a strong Common Agricultural Policy. MEPs in the Committee on Fisheries took great interest in the presentation of the Minister on the Presidency’s priorities as well.
Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly Transport
Mr Pál Völner, State Secretary for Infrastructure of the Ministry of National Development told the European Parliament’s (EP) Committee on Transport and Tourism that “the development of land, air and water networks could become the driving force of our common prosperity...the aspects of sustainability and the environment also need to be considered”.
Trade Policy in the Service of Human Dignity
At the hearing of the EP’s Committee on International Trade, Foreign Minister, János Martonyi, declared that the Hungarian Presidency had not chosen the motto “strong Europe with a human touch” by chance.