Eu Competitiveness in Focus

On May 07 we welcomed Mr. János Bóka, Minister for EU Affairs of Hungary, to our Business Forum, where we discussed, ahead of the upcoming Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the priorities of Hungary as a President and relations between Hungary and the EU.

In 2004 our EU membership was seen - and should be seen today - as a historic success based on national consensus: a decision to which there was, and is, no alternative. Hungary is a smaller, open, and export-driven economy, consequently, the flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) and access to the EU market are crucial economic considerations in favor of EU membership.

He also outlined three key aspects, according to which the Presidency could be evaluated: contribution to a smooth institutional transition, acting as a fair broker and, provision of meaningful policy input for the next five years, with the main goal of increasing the EU's global competitiveness.

He also said that competitive Europe is not possible without the contribution of the business sector and underlined that the presidency will maintain a continual dialogue about the need for a European industrial policy and how the green transition can be implemented in a way that makes Europe’s industry greener while also maintaining its competitive edge.

Reducing the administrative burdens caused by EU rules, detailed legislative impact studies and effective consultation with economic players are important for making Europe’s competitiveness stronger, he continued.

Moreover, we also signed a new Strategic Partnership Agreement to further enhance the cooperation between the business sector and the Ministry. The Agreement enables our members to be informed on the legislative agendas and provides them with the opportunity to consult on questions that fall under the responsibility of the Ministry of EU Affairs of Hungary.

The Minister outlined the key objectives of the Presidency, such as to contribute to a smooth institutional transition. Additionally, he emphasized the need to provide meaningful policy input for the next five years, with the main goal of increasing the EU's global competitiveness. Moreover, we also signed a new Strategic Partnership Agreement to further enhance the cooperation between the business sector and the Ministry.

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