Hungary's 2024 EU Presidency – priorities and achievements
Petri Bernadett, Director of the Europe Strategy Research Institute, presented the main objectives and achievements of Hungary's 2024 EU presidency in her lecture to a delegation of Uzbek public officials at the Ludovika University of Public Service. She also provided a forward-looking policy outlook.
Hungary held the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union for the second time from July 1 to December 31, 2024. The presidency took place in a particularly complex geopolitical and economic environment, shaped by the Russia-Ukraine war, the energy crisis, inflation, and the institutional transformation of the EU. One of the most important tasks of the Hungarian presidency was to place key issues on the EU agenda and facilitate negotiations on long-standing matters.
During the presidency, a total of 300 professional consultations were conducted with relevant stakeholders, 39 official Council meetings were held, and 14 informal ministerial meetings took place. As a result, 57 Council conclusions were adopted, along with nine legislative documents.
The presidency worked along seven main priorities: enhancing European competitiveness, strengthening defense policy, continuing EU enlargement, stopping illegal migration, supporting cohesion policy, promoting farmer-centered agriculture, and addressing demographic challenges.
Key achievements in various policy areas
Hungary initiated the "New European Competitiveness Deal" to improve the EU’s economic performance by enhancing productivity, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and facilitating the green and digital transition. A milestone of this initiative was the Budapest Declaration, adopted on November 8, 2024, at an informal European Council meeting in Budapest, identifying 12 key areas, including industrial policy renewal and strengthening innovation financing. In the field of defense policy, Hungary prioritized enhancing the EU’s defense capabilities, particularly by promoting defense innovation and strengthening European military capacities, organizing several high-level meetings to advance defense cooperation. Regarding EU enlargement, Hungary actively supported accelerating the EU integration process of the Western Balkans, leading to progress in Albania's and Montenegro’s accession negotiations, further advancement in Serbia’s EU integration process, and Moldova's active engagement in enlargement talks. In migration policy, Hungary focused on strengthening the protection of the EU’s external borders and enhancing cooperation with third countries. The Budapest European Political Community (EPC) Summit emphasized joint action against illegal migration, with Hungary initiating EU-level measures to curb human trafficking. In terms of cohesion policy, Hungary aimed to reduce regional disparities within the EU by facilitating initiatives supporting regional development and ensuring that cohesion funds continued to promote sustainable growth and job creation. The Hungarian presidency also successfully gained support from EU agricultural ministers for a farmer-centered agricultural strategy, emphasizing the need to provide farmers with access to innovative technologies while ensuring sustainable production practices. Addressing demographic challenges, Hungary organized the first informal EU Demographic Ministerial Meeting in November 2024, where EU countries jointly explored solutions to Europe’s declining population and aging demographic structure.
Milestone achievements
One of the most significant accomplishments of the Hungarian presidency was securing full Schengen membership for Romania and Bulgaria, effective from January 1, 2025.
A landmark agreement was also reached on the EU’s 2025 budget, which the European Parliament approved on November 27, 2024. Additionally, preliminary discussions began for the post-2028 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), setting the long-term budgetary directions for the EU.
Future outlook
Petri Bernadett also addressed future prospects, particularly in social policy and healthcare. She emphasized that Hungary’s EU Commissioner is currently responsible for the health portfolio in the European Commission, with a key focus on reducing cardiovascular diseases, which are among the leading causes of death in Europe.
In conclusion, Bernadett Petri underscored that the Hungarian presidency achieved significant results in EU policymaking. Hungarian negotiating teams made progress in several policy areas, and Hungary played an active role in shaping the future of the European Union.