Hungary assumes EU presidency after creation of new alliance

BUDAPEST/VIENNA — Hungary took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union on Monday for six months, with its focus on enhancing the bloc's competitiveness.

Janos Boka, Hungary's EU affairs minister, outlined the seven top priorities during the presidency, including enhancing EU competitiveness, reinforcing European defense policy, stemming illegal migration and formulating a farmer-oriented EU agricultural policy.

These priorities reflect the will of European voters, Boka said, stressing that the recent European parliamentary elections sent a clear political message that "Europe needs change".

He highlighted EU competitiveness and European security and defense policy in particular. "Strengthening Europe's peace and security are of paramount importance," he said.

The motto of Hungary's EU presidency is "Make Europe Great Again". Zoltan Kiszelly, director of the Center of Political Analyses at Hungary's Szazadveg Institute, told Xinhua News Agency that Hungary is expected to play a significant role in setting the agenda and topics for meetings and negotiations due in the coming months.

The day before Hungary started its EU presidency, Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Fidesz party announced in Vienna the creation of "Patriots for Europe", a new far-right alliance, in the European Parliament.

The alliance seeks to establish a new political group in Parliament this week, the Euractiv news website reported.

Alongside the leaders of Austria's Freedom Party and the Czech opposition Action of Dissatisfied Citizens, Orban said the aim of the new group is to become the dominant right-wing group in European politics focusing on migration, green policies and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Orban said the alliance would soon become the "largest group of the European right". Yet, it would need to attract lawmakers from at least four other EU member states to form a group in the European Parliament.

The three parties secured top positions in their countries in the recent European elections, gaining a number of seats in the European Parliament, benefiting from the rise in right-wing support across Europe.

Jonathan Powell in London contributed to this story.

Xinhua