President Buzek: "Hungary has met its promise to be a Parliament-friendly Presidency"

Hungary is now more than halfway into its six-month Council Presidency and the implementation of its priorities is moving along at a steady pace. The new role of the rotating presidencies following the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty has been shouldered with diligence by Hungary. It has proven itself as an honest and able broker.

Parliament-friendly Presidency

Hungary has met its promise to be a "Parliament-friendly Presidency” and has cooperated with the European Parliament in an exemplary way. Following lively debates in the European Parliament, I am pleased that the issue of the Hungarian media law has been resolved thanks to a constructive dialogue between the Hungarian government and the EU institutions.

We have had regular and fruitful meetings with my friends President Schmitt, Prime Minister Orbán and the Minister of State for EU Affairs Enikő Győri, as well as other ministers. Together we made progress on several important dossiers and inter-institutional issues.

Economic Governance Package as top priority

Among those, the Economic Governance Package, the legislative six-pack stands out. A top priority of both the European Parliament and the Hungarian Presidency, it will allow for enhanced budgetary discipline and strengthened economic policy surveillance. The general approach was adopted by the European Spring Council, and the pack will be put to a vote in the EP Economic Affairs Committee in April. Negotiations with the Member States will then begin with a view to reach a deal by the end of June.

Implementation of the European Semester has already begun, and agreement on the European Stability Mechanism has been attained following the positive opinion of the European Parliament on the Treaty amendment. Hungary deserves credit for its role in forging consensus and helping the EU overcome the sovereign debt crisis.

European strategy on Roma inclusion

Twelve million Europeans experience difficulty in accessing education, quality housing, employment and health care. The exclusion of the Roma community is unacceptable. The adoption of the report on European Roma inclusion prepared by Hungarian Roma MEP Lívia Járóka was an important step in the right direction. It has fed into the EU Strategy on Roma prepared by the Commission and presented to our April plenary. I am confident that thanks to the Hungarian Presidency´s brokering role, the European Council will adopt the strategy in June.

Advancement towards a European Energy Market

The need to create a common European Energy Market is a priority I share with the Hungarian Presidency, and I was pleased to see talks on the matter advance at the special energy summit in February. But more needs to be done. Europe must act now or energy risks become our greatest weakness. We need a truly integrated energy market and important investment in infrastructure and green technologies are necessary.

Danube strategy welcomed

During my presidency of the EP, I have had the pleasure to visit Hungary on four occasions, more than any other member country. On 9 March, we were in turn honoured by the visit of my friend and former European Parliament colleague, Hungarian President Pál Schmitt. In his address to the House, President Schmitt spoke of the Danube strategy, a macro-regional initiative which will count on the participation of 8 EU countries and 6 non-EU countries. I welcome this initiative which aims to improve transport and energy connections, environment, security and socio-economic development in the region.

Full support for EU enlargement

The Presidency wishes to take the enlargement process forward, and I fully support this objective. Croatia's accession is progressing, and the country is now in the final stretch of its path to EU membership. Croatian membership of the EU will be a signal to the neighbouring countries in South Eastern Europe that reforms pay off. I believe that the long-term stability of the region depends on the prospect for these countries to join our Union.

I am therefore pleased to co-host a Joint Parliamentary meeting on 13-14 April on the topic with László Kövér, Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly. As for Iceland, the draft resolution by the EP Foreign Affairs Committee looks forward to Iceland's accession provided outstanding issues are resolved. I regret the current stalemate in the accession talks with Turkey. I hope that the Hungarian Presidency will be able to open talks on the competition chapter and persuade Turkey to ratify the Ankara protocol.

Civil Protection Mechanism successfully activated in Libya

As we speak, there is continued unrest throughout the Arab world. Democracy cannot be imposed from outside, however we must continue to monitor the situation in Northern Africa, Syria, Bahrain and Yemen and support transformation in any way we can. During the Hungarian Presidency, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been successfully activated for the very first time, in order to evacuate European citizens from a turbulent Libya.

The European Parliament is currently reviewing the Neighbourhood policy, looking at what the EU's role should be and how it can help the emerging democracies in its southern neighbourhood.

EP commemorates Prime Minister Antall

In the European Parliament we have named one of the buildings after the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Hungary, József Antall. On 2 February this year, Antall's original typewriter was donated to us by Hungarian Speaker László Kövér. What better reminder of the work of one of the key figures who fought for democracy in Europe!

Parliament to continue tandem with the Presidency

The European Parliament stands ready to continue to work in tandem with the Hungarian Presidency. I am confident that much of the work carried out during the Hungarian Presidency will provide a solid basis to build on when the baton is passed onto the Polish Presidency and the incoming trio of presidencies in July, not least in the fields of energy and enlargement.