Hongaars voorzitterschap: belangrijke rol nationale parlementen bij ontwikkeling buitenlands en veiligheidsbeleid EU (en)

The development of a single European foreign policy demands patience, understanding and willingness to create consensus, from Member States and cooperation from national parliaments, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs János Martonyi said at the Conference of Foreign Affairs Committee Chairs (COFACC), in the Hungarian Parliament, on 6 May 2011.

The European Union is in a transitional phase, since Common Foreign and Security Policy is changing, János Martonyi explained. He advised Foreign Affairs Committee Chairs to consider the events, which are unfolding in North African countries as a case study, and to support the development of the common foreign and security policy by their respective cooperation.

“If we can act successfully in filed of tectonic changes in the South Mediterranean area, then we will have a common foreign and security policy. But this takes patience, understanding and willingness for consensus by Member States, on a daily basis. I think that national parliaments play a key role in this respect,” Mr Martonyi said, mentioning that the decisions made by the governments, always consider the opinion of national parliaments.

In response to participants’ questions, the foreign minister stressed that the Hungarian Presidency acted on several occasions, on behalf of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy: most recently on May 5, when Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zsolt Németh i represented Catherine Ashton i at the EU-Moldova Cooperation Council’s meeting. But in certain fields, the Presidency assumes full responsibility. As an example, János Martonyi mentioned immigration and refugee affairs, the acceptance of sanctions, and energy policy.“Therefore, we must establish a complex relationship with the European External Action Service, which is currently underway,” he added.

Acting as chair of the meeting, Chairman of the Hungarian Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Mihály Balla said in his opening speech, that the challenges coming from many directions towards the EU, draws the attention to the necessity of a common foreign and security policy.“Although the European External Action Service will only be an instrument and enforcer of the policy, it is very important for all Member States to be satisfied with its operation and organisation,” Mr Balla stressed.

The train of enlargement cannot stop

Mr Martonyi said that the Hungarian Presidency has put much work into concluding accession negotiations with Croatia. He also reminded that a possible failure would not be the Presidency’s failure, but that of the European Union. “The train of enlargement must rattle on; this is what we will represent as a member of the next Presidency Trio,” he added.

In his speech, Mihály Balla stressed that Croatia’s accession can give a huge boost to the entire enlargement process.“It might have a positive impact on the accession perspectives of West Balkan countries and Turkey, even in the present mood, which is dominated by enlargement fatigue and the economic crisis,” he said.

In his speech, Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, László Kövér stressed that “constant cooperation between the Hungarian National Assembly and the parliaments of the West Balkans is a priority.”He also stressed the importance of bridging the gap to the West Balkans, from the perspective of European integration.

East and South cannot damage one another

During the debate on European Neighbour Policy, State Minister Zsolt Németh said that the events unfolding in the EU’s Southern Neighbourhood have been the greatest challenge for Europe ever since the Cold War.

“The reaction of Europe will have a strong and lasting effect on the EU’s international credibility,” the State Minister said. According to him, if the EU wants to be a global actor, it must first give answers to the ever growing challenges and expectations in its Eastern and Southern neighbourhood. According to Mr Németh, it is currently unknown how the events in the Arab world will affect the Eastern Partnership. The State Minister noted: development of the eastern and southern dimension in the field of neighbourhood policy must not damage one another, “The unity of the neighbourhood policy must be preserved.”Answering participants’ questions, the State Minister said that the consensus in neighbourhood policy issues is stronger than it was in 2009 during the Prague Summit, when the Eastern Partnership was formally launched.

Zsolt Németh underlined that a thorough debate is needed on the European Commission’s communication, which is to be announced soon.“With respect to the proposals of the European Commission and the European External Action Service, Member States - in spirit of the Lisbon Treaty - must make significant political contributions,” he said.