Permanent Representation in Brussels

The main task of the Permanent Representation of Hungary in Brussels is to participate in the preparation of the decisions of the Council and to represent Hungarian interests in the process.

The Council of the European Union seats a competent minister from each Member State and is one of the main decision-making bodies of the EU. The main role in the preparation of decisions is assumed by the Permanent Representation of Member States in Brussels. The Permanent Representatives meet at least once a week and develop proposals and plans that are submitted to the Councils (ministers) for approval. They also coordinate the activities of the 250 work groups comprised of the Member States’ ministerial experts.

The body of the heads of the representations of the 27 member states is referred to under the French acronym COREPER. There are two such bodies numbered in Roman numericals. COREPER-II includes the Heads of the Representations, while COREPER-I involves their deputies. The various policies are divided among the two COREPERs. The heads of the missions are responsible for political and financial affairs and the deputies for social and economic issues. Separate Deputy Permanent Representatives deal with the EU’s foreign and security policy.

Permanent Representation – three ambassadors, two spokespersons

• Ambassador Péter Györkös– Permanent Representative – COREPER-II
• Ambassador Ágnes Vargha ­­– Deputy Permanent Representative – COREPER-I
• Ambassador Károly Grúber– foreign and security policy
• Gergely Polner, spokesperson - COREPER-II
• Márton Hajdú, spokesperson - COREPER-I

The Permanent Representation of Hungary in Brussels is headed by three ambassadors. The head of the entire representation is Ambassador Péter Györkös, Permanent Representative of Hungary. He is a member of committee number 2 of permanent representatives, COREPER II. The second ambassador, Ágnes Vargha, the Deputy Permanent Representative, represents Hungary in COREPER I. The third ambassador is Károly Grúber who deals with foreign and security policy.

The Hungarian Permanent Representation has two spokespersons during the Presidency: Gergely Polner, specialises in matters related to the Permanent Representative (COREPER-II), and Márton Hajdú, who specialises in matters related to the Deputy Permanent Representative (COREPER-I).

Hungary participates in the development of common policies through the Permanent Representation (PR). Common policies concern fields such as the internal market, agriculture, consumption, tourism, transportation, telecommunication, employment, industry, scientific research, healthcare, environment protection, education, foreign relations and budgetary, internal and justice affairs. The PR represents Hungarian posititon and interests in the European Union. The main task of the country assuming the rotating presidency is to promote compromises among Member States – as the Hungarian government put it:  “selfless mediation”.  The chief implementer of that during the presidency is the PR.

The PR, with its 160 employees, is the projection of the Hungarian government, according to EU decision-making. Apart from diplomats and experts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it also employs people from all seven portfolios, and from the National Office for Research and Technology (NKTH) as well as the Hungarian National Assembly.

The PR links the Hungarian ministries and the actors of the EU decision-making process: the European Commission, the Council and the European Parliament. Coordination among the Hungarian ministries is performed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the case of disputed issues, the decision lies with the government.

The PR maintains contact with the Hungarian National Assembly and even with MPs of other Member States, and also with local residential communities, corporations, trade unions, non-governmental organisations, scientific researchers and the press.

Contact:

Permanent Representative (head of the PR):
Ambassador dr. Péter Györkös
Adress: 92-98, Rue de Tréves, 1040 Bruxelles
Telephone:00-32-2-234-12-00, 00-32-2-234-12-41
Fax: 00-32-2-372-07-84
E-mail: beu.missions@kum.hu; cor2BEU@kum.hu
Website: http://www.mfa.gov.hu/brussels_eu

Deputy Permanent Representative:
Ambassador Ágnes Vargha
Tel.: +32-2-234-1239
E-mail: Deputy.BEU@kum.hu

Political and Security Office:
Ambassador Károly Grúber
Tel.: +32-2-234-1416
E-mail: PSC.BEU@kum.hu