Europe Hungary's Council Presidency - Orban wants to "make the EU great again"

"Make Europe Great Again" - with this modified campaign slogan of former US President Donald Trump as its motto, Hungary takes over the EU Council Presidency this Monday. In German, the slogan means something like "Make Europe great again". Is the motto already an indication of what to expect from the EU Council Presidency of a right-wing populist Viktor Orban?

The Hungarian Prime Minister is considered one of the biggest troublemakers in the EU. Orban repeatedly clashes with other member states and blocks important votes. Most recently, this was the case with support for Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia.

Orban has his own view of Hungarian democracy

In addition, Hungary was recently fined 200 million euros by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) because Budapest had disregarded EU asylum law. This represents a completely new and exceptionally serious violation of EU law, it said. In previous rulings, the ECJ has already declared significant parts of the Hungarian asylum system to be unlawful. The European Commission has also accused Hungary of disregarding EU standards and fundamental values for years and has already frozen billions in funding for the country as a result.

Orban, on the other hand, sees his political course confirmed by the high voter turnout in Hungary in the European elections, among other things. "This shows that Hungarian democracy is also doing well, it says thank you very much, it is alive and flourishing, there are competing players, there is interest, there are people who have an opinion, who want to express it, who want to influence public life," he told the Hungarian television station M1 in mid-June.

Unusual role for Hungary

With the Council Presidency, Orban now has an unusual role to play: his country will have to mediate in disagreements between the EU states and chair numerous ministerial meetings. Belgium previously had this task - the EU presidency rotates between the 27 member states every six months. Orban's Hungary already held the EU Council Presidency in 2011, one year after the right-wing populist came to power. At that time, Orban began to set the course for his system, which he called "illiberal democracy" in 2014, by amending the constitution. It is his political credo and trademark.

"The presidency does not mean that you are the boss of Europe. The presidency means that you are the one who has to make the compromise," the outgoing Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo recently told his Budapest colleague in Brussels. Being in a position where you have to make a compromise is an interesting situation. "I can definitely recommend it to Mr. Orban."

Hardly any new legislative initiatives expected

If you ask EU diplomats, there is limited enthusiasm for the Hungarian presidency, but hardly anyone sees a major threat to the EU. This is due to the timing: the Council Presidency is also responsible for driving forward EU legislation. However, shortly after the European elections, Parliament and the Commission first have to find their feet. Many new legislative initiatives are therefore not to be expected during this phase.

Budapest has already announced its intention to focus on the economic competitiveness of the EU. In addition, illegal migration is to be better combated - including through agreements with third countries.

FDP MEP Moritz Körner also expects that Orban will be able to do "relatively little mischief" with regard to EU legislation. "The Council Presidency cannot release frozen Hungarian funds either," he says. "However, Hungarian unilateral action is unfortunately possible in terms of media and diplomacy, both towards (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and towards Trump, which could embarrass the EU."

"Budapest decides what is talked about"

Körner also complains that it is "hard to beat the embarrassment for the EU" that Hungary will moderate the talks on rule of law issues in the Council over the next six months. Green MEP Daniel Freund sees this point as "ironic". Unlike other EU states, Hungary had not put the rule of law on its list of priorities for the Council Presidency. They are dealing with the "most corrupt government in the EU".

Freund is particularly concerned that Hungary, as Council President, sets the agendas for all meetings. Budapest decides what is discussed and what is not. And the fact that Orban modeled his slogan for the Council presidency on Trump's slogan suggests unpleasant parallels. "You can guess which side he (Orban) is on," Freund emphasizes.