Hongarije draagt EU-voorzitterschap over aan Polen (en)

Hungary handed over the Presidency to Poland on 1 July 2011. In Warsaw, Hungarian head of government Viktor Orbán i, handed over the EU’s flag and the baton, symbolising the Presidency to his Polish counterpart, Donald Tusk i.

On this occasion, the Polish Prime Minister congratulated Hungary for the Presidency. According to him, “Hungary did a flawless job in the Presidency, even though the country fulfilled this position at a time that was especially difficult for Europe. The Hungarian Presidency performed beyond all expectations, and this view is generally shared in Brussels as well,” he added. Mr Tusk especially acknowledged the role Hungary had played in completing the accession talks with Croatia.

Special Hungarian-Polish cooperation

Both heads of government stressed that they had intended on forming a special Hungarian-Polish cooperation, well before the start of Hungarian Presidency. Therefore, Mr Orbán expressed his gratitude to Mr Tusk, and said that he would return the support during the term of the Polish Presidency.

Mr Tusk also thanked his Hungarian partner for giving him useful advice concerning the negotiations with politicians of the Union, before the delivery of the flag.

Addressing EU’s political issues, Mr Tusk said that he would, “Maximally support the community method in the development of the EU’s budget.”

The Polish Prime Minister thanked Viktor Orbán for postponing the Eastern Partnership Summit until September. He added that the Hungarian head of government had consulted with him on this matter. The decision was driven by the opinions of the two heads of government, that the Eastern Partnership Summit would have attracted less attention on 27 May, because of the Arab spring. Mr Tusk said that in the summit scheduled for the term of the Polish Presidency, Viktor Orbán would be a co-host in the same way he would have been in the summit,originally planned for Hungary.

Mr Tusk underlined that despite the highlighted Eastern partnership, Poland will not attempt to put the southern neighbourhood on the back burner, and will also be active on that matter.

Orbán: Poland has given spiritual direction and political strategy to Central Europe

“For a Hungarian coming to Poland, it is a moving and elevating feeling,” Viktor Orbán said, beginning his speech. Referring to Pope John Paul II and the Solidarity movement, the Hungarian Prime Minister highlighted: Poland has given spiritual direction and political strategy to Central Europe; without these two things, Hungary would not be a free country either.

Mr Orbán stressed that the purpose of the Hungarian-Polish Presidency cooperation, is to strengthen the role of Central Europe. He said, “Here, we are also working to earn a good reputation for Central Europe, since it will be 13-14 years until we can take on the Presidency again, and we have not received the Presidency since we became a member.”

“As it turns out, we were able to operate the European institutes when they were left to us”, Mr Orbán said. In his opinion, Hungary has done everything for a favourable response, and now it is up to Poland to provide the other half to the joint success of Central Europe. “I have no doubt that their chances are excellent,” he said. The Hungarian Prime Minister expressed his belief that in the upcoming years, Central Europe will become the engine of European economic recovery and growth.

The Hungarian Presidency demonstrated that Europe has a heart

Mr Orbán highlighted three of the Hungarian Presidency’s successes: closing the accession negotiations with Croatia, creating the Roma strategy and laying the foundations of economic governance. Concerning the Roma strategy, he mentioned that this has been unprecedented in the EU’s history, hence, it demonstrated that: “Europe not only has money and brains, but also a heart, and this is important”.

Keeping the Eastern neighbourhood and Western Balkans in focus

In response to a journalist’s question, Viktor Orbán called it important that Europe should give political, social and also economic support to the popular movements, which took place in the southern neighbourhood. He said that it is up to the Presidencies to define to what extent, should the events of the southern neighbourhood policy would overshadow the Eastern neighbourhood, or even the enlargement of the EU. “If we make a constant effort to ensure that the matters of Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkans are not neglected, then they won’t be,” he said.

Mr Orbán also pointed out that a kind of task sharing has developed between Hungary and Poland: Hungary has focused primarily on the Western Balkans, while Poland will afford most of its attention to the Eastern neighbourhood.

Wine and sword as presents

Mr Orbán gave a small keg of Tokaj wine to Mr Tusk as a present, which the Polish Prime Minister returned by giving him a sword. The two gifts were reference to centuries old Hungarian-Polish friendship, which is manifested in wine drinking and fighting, according to a short rhymed saying created in the 18th century.

Mr Tusk said that during the term of the Polish Presidency, “Mainly Hungarian wines will be served” in working lunches. He added, “Hungarian wines are just as good as the most respected Italian, French and Spanish wines in every way.”