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Stronger Europe- but how?

Few people in Brussels doubt that Europe should be stronger and indeed a “Strong Europe” is the motto of the 2011 Hungarian EU Presidency that, for the next six months, will become the head of the Council of the European Union. According to Bálint Ódor, Deputy State Secretary for EU affairs, the aim of the Hungarian Presidency is to “help create an economically, socially, politically and institutionally stronger and more attractive Europe.” Now the question is how and whether the Hungarians will succeed.

Some commentators argue that the Presidency rotating system is a catwalk for the different capitals to show off. Every six months there is a new country that pretends to shape the EU agenda – usually in conflict with the one of the other EU institutions.

Coming at a particularly tumultuous period for the EU economies, the Presidency programme will focus on four main priority areas: promoting economic growth by strengthening economic governance and concentrating on job creation and social inclusion; strengthening of common policies while at the same time creating cohesion; bringing Europe closer to its citizens and moving forward with the enlargement process.

Six months is not long and Hungary's EU presidency is already beset with more controversy than all recent Presidencies combined.
Almost all its priorities have already been questioned by other Member States starting with the Hungarian intention of bringing Europe closer to its citizens. The proposed Hungarian media law has provoked a storm of criticism as politicians and journalists inside the country and around the globe argue that the new law aims at limiting the freedom of expression. The new law can force journalists to reveal their sources using criminal law procedures. In response to this, politicians such as the Foreign Minister of Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn, questioned whether Hungary was fit to take on the EU presidency.

Regarding the enlargement process, Hungary announced that extending the enlargement of the Schengen area towards Romania and Bulgaria was one of its objectives, something that Germany and France had already vetoed in December 2010.

The crisis of the euro zone is another important priority and a big challenge for a country that does not yet take part in the monetary union. Interestingly enough, the beginning of the Hungarian Presidency has been marked by the expansion of the euro zone to its 17th member, Estonia.

One of the most interesting aspects of this Presidency, on top of advancing the 2020 strategy, will be the “European semester”. Hungary will be the first country to use this surveillance/coordination mechanism among the 27 Member States; established with a view to aligning their annual economic and fiscal perspectives with the Stability and Growth Pact. The idea is to prevent any further deficit/ budget crisis in the Euro zone and avoid extraordinary surprises.

Could prevention be the way to a stronger Europe? We only have five months to wait to assess this Presidency and see if the EU has indeed become stronger.

Patricia Lamas Sánchez
Senior Consultant

January 11 2011