Hungary, which assumed the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU) this Monday, will propose a competitiveness pact to avoid a trade war with Eastern countries, namely China, which the bloc will lose, announced the first -Hungarian minister.
“The European Union is about to enter a trade war with the East, in which it can only lose. What is needed here is not isolationism, but a strengthening of relations and more vigorous trade,” Viktor Orbán told Hungarian state television from Brussels, where he received leadership of the EU from his Belgian counterpart, Alexander De Croo.
Orbán added that one of the possible sources of conflict with countries like China could be EU measures, such as additional taxes on electric cars coming from the Asian giant.
The Prime Minister added that he held talks with the major European car manufacturers, stating that they “do not want this measure, because if they [os fabricantes chineses] fight back, Europe will lose much more.” Orbán explained that one of the priorities of the Hungarian rotating presidency, which will last until December 31, will be the achievement of a competitiveness pact.
Hungarian European Affairs Minister János Bóka told public radio Kossuth on Sunday that the Hungarian presidency of the EU Council will “focus political attention on this issue and identify areas where decisions can be made to strengthen competitiveness”.
The other six priorities defined by Orbán’s government for its six-month mandate at the head of the EU are common defense and the defense of external borders, as well as making progress on EU enlargement, strengthening cohesion and agricultural policies and resolving demographic problems. “Now it’s Hungary and Viktor Orbán’s turn,” said De Croo on the social network.
The Belgian leader said he was “proud” of the record of the Belgian presidency, which “fulfilled its ambition to protect our citizens, strengthen our economy and prepare the future of Europe”. “I wish the Hungarian Presidency well and am confident that it will fulfill the interests of all EU citizens”, he stressed.
The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, also received Viktor Orbán today to mark the beginning of the rotating presidency and stated that the way to face the challenges is to be “together and united”.
The president of the European Council, who will be succeeded in December by former prime minister António Costa, said that “priorities such as competitiveness, defense and enlargement, among others”, were discussed. “We all know the challenges we face. Together and united is the only way to overcome them”, highlighted the Belgian politician.
During the presidency, Hungary will have to mediate between member states to reach agreements, but Orbán has distanced himself from collective decisions and has even blocked decisions, such as the disbursement of funds to provide military support to Ukraine nia in its defense against Russia.
