The Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which started on the beginning of 2024, concluded its six-month tenure on the 1st of July, passing the mantle to Hungary, who will be at the helm until the end of the year. The Hungarian Presidency will face a number of unique challenges related to the inauguration of a new Parliament and College of Commissioners. Even Zoltán Kovács, the Government Commissioner for the Presidency, acknowledges the Hungarian Presidency’s main focus will be to ensure a smooth institutional transition.
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Hungary has outlined seven official priority topics for its Presidency, none of which focuses explicitly on environment or climate. Notably, one of the priorities is the development of a “Farmer-friendly Agricultural Policy”, in light of the recent political and regulatory developments surrounding the Green Deal. The Presidency’s programme outlines the main objective of taking advantage of the formation of the new Commission to shape “the rules of the Union’s post-2027 agricultural policy for a competitive, crisis-proof and farmer-friendly agriculture”. This is to be done through the achievement of a “rational balance regarding the strategic objectives of the European Green Deal, the stabilisation of agricultural markets, and a decent standard of living for farmers”.
Hungarian authorities plan to host discussions on the new green architecture of the current CAP, as well as on the implementation of the Strategic Plans and the CAP’s post-2027 future. Regarding presently open legislative files, Hungary’s priorities lie on forest monitoring, NGTs and animal welfare-related topics. Soil health and conservation will also feature prominently in the Presidency’s agri-food policy: a special event dedicated to the topic will be held to celebrate Soil Day. The event will act as a concluding activity for the International Decade of Soils.
The Presidency’s programme also includes a chapter on Climate Policy. Hungary defends the establishment of an intermediate net-zero goal for 2040, to be set on an ambitious yet realistic basis, while monitoring the implementing of the 2030 target. Hungary pays special attention to the “support of citizens” for climate-related measures, without which, as per the programme, they cannot succeed. Measures include increasing the role of stakeholders in consultations over climate policy, and further coordination between the Commission and Member States over National Energy and Climate Plans. This is in line with both internal political positions and Europe-wide concerns after the farmers’ protests and last June’s electoral results.
Overall, the Hungarian Presidency takes a much more cautious approach towards the Green Deal and environmental topics than its predecessors, but remains committed to the EU’s broader guidelines. Although no major developments should be expected on soils, given also the focus on interinstitutional transitions, the Presidency appears committed to maintaining the spotlight on the topic.
More information is available at: https://hungarian-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/media/32nhoe0p/programme-and-priorities-of-the-hungarian-presidency.pdf