Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BUDAPEST553
2009-07-30 13:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Budapest
Cable title:
HUNGARY'S PRELIMINARY PLANNING FOR THEIR EU
how-toVZCZCXRO0181 RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHUP #0553/01 2111329 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 301329Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4361 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BUDAPEST 000553
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE. PLEASE PASS TO NSC JEFF
HOVENIER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARY'S PRELIMINARY PLANNING FOR THEIR EU
PRESIDENCY
l. SUMMARY: In a meeting with PolOffs July 22, Hungarian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs representatives outlined current
efforts underway for Hungary's upcoming rotation as EU
President, which will begin January 1, 2011. Hungary's
18-month "EU Trio" partners are Spain and Belgium.
Significant coordination and collaboration is already
underway concerning the trio's joint political roles
beginning with Spain's EU Presidency on January 1, 2010.
Current Hungarian planning includes preliminary steps
addressing preparations for its rotation, potential
ratification of the Lisbon treaty, as well as an expected
change of government following the spring 2010 national
elections. END SUMMARY.
--------------
THE FIRST "EU TRIO"
--------------
2. Peter Bartha and Peter Szoke of the MFA's EU Presidency,
Coordination and Legal Affairs Department met with PolOffs
July 22 to discuss Hungary's preparations for their EU
Presidency beginning January 1, 2011. Hungary has formed a
"Trio" with Spain and Belgium to better coordinate an
18-month plan covering their three six-month terms. Bartha
stated that the Trio's Presidency Program is due November
2009, and he believes that the three countries are on track
to meet this deadline.
3. According to Bartha, the Presidency Program will include
both a strategic framework and an operational program. He
said that the three countries are working together to build a
Presidency Program based on common political goals addressing
the following topics: the EU's economic and financial
situation; energy security; climate; agriculture and
fisheries; freedom and justice; and a European Neighborhood
Policy. He noted however, that the areas of energy security
and climate will be finalized following the upcoming
Copenhagen Climate Conference.
--------------
KEY HUNGARIAN PRIORITIES
--------------
4. Bartha stated that the strategic framework will focus on a
strategy that includes crisis response and a "new" social
agenda, while the operational programs will outline
priorities and legislation. He specifically highlighted the
following Hungarian key program priorities: sustainable use
of natural resources and "water access issues"; sustainable
agricultural and fisheries programs; freedom, security and
justice program development - the Stockholm process; and EU
enlargement based on the Copenhagen criteria. Bartha
commented on the importance of the "Mediterranean initiative"
for Spain, but said that the "Eastern initiative" is
particularly important for Hungary.
5. Continuing, Bartha said that the Trio is working under the
assumption that Ireland will ratify the Lisbon treaty this
fall, and as such, it must be prepared to integrate those new
measures into the European Union. Szoke noted, however, that
Hungary does not foresee its own presidency being greatly
affected by such a development because most of the required
measures associated with the new treaty will already be in
place prior to its presidency.
--------------
SIX HUNDRED PERSON STAFF
--------------
6. While the GOH plans to formulate the details of its
presidency program during the first half of 2010, steps are
now underway to create the support structure. Bartha noted
that the government's 2010 budget to be submitted in
September will include funding for its presidency, but he did
not provide any specific figures. He stated that the GOH has
already selected approximately six hundred people to fill a
broad range of positions, with language and other general
training provided for them. In addition, the MFA is drawing
up a communications strategy with a focus on potential
cultural events during the presidency. Bartha also mentioned
a proposed EU-U.S. summit potentially scheduled during
Hungary's six-month presidency.
--------------
IMPACT OF NATIONAL ELECTIONS
--------------
7. With national elections scheduled for spring 2010, there
BUDAPEST 00000553 002 OF 002
is a strong likelihood that the opposition Fidesz party will
lead the next government. While this has the potential to
complicate planning, Bartha said that the current Socialist
government formed a working group with all five parliamentary
parties in order to reach a consensus on Hungarian goals
during its presidency. According to Bartha, the working
group has already met nine times, and he believes there are
few, if any, major issues in moving towards consensus on
Hungary's EU presidency agenda.
LEVINE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE. PLEASE PASS TO NSC JEFF
HOVENIER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARY'S PRELIMINARY PLANNING FOR THEIR EU
PRESIDENCY
l. SUMMARY: In a meeting with PolOffs July 22, Hungarian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs representatives outlined current
efforts underway for Hungary's upcoming rotation as EU
President, which will begin January 1, 2011. Hungary's
18-month "EU Trio" partners are Spain and Belgium.
Significant coordination and collaboration is already
underway concerning the trio's joint political roles
beginning with Spain's EU Presidency on January 1, 2010.
Current Hungarian planning includes preliminary steps
addressing preparations for its rotation, potential
ratification of the Lisbon treaty, as well as an expected
change of government following the spring 2010 national
elections. END SUMMARY.
--------------
THE FIRST "EU TRIO"
--------------
2. Peter Bartha and Peter Szoke of the MFA's EU Presidency,
Coordination and Legal Affairs Department met with PolOffs
July 22 to discuss Hungary's preparations for their EU
Presidency beginning January 1, 2011. Hungary has formed a
"Trio" with Spain and Belgium to better coordinate an
18-month plan covering their three six-month terms. Bartha
stated that the Trio's Presidency Program is due November
2009, and he believes that the three countries are on track
to meet this deadline.
3. According to Bartha, the Presidency Program will include
both a strategic framework and an operational program. He
said that the three countries are working together to build a
Presidency Program based on common political goals addressing
the following topics: the EU's economic and financial
situation; energy security; climate; agriculture and
fisheries; freedom and justice; and a European Neighborhood
Policy. He noted however, that the areas of energy security
and climate will be finalized following the upcoming
Copenhagen Climate Conference.
--------------
KEY HUNGARIAN PRIORITIES
--------------
4. Bartha stated that the strategic framework will focus on a
strategy that includes crisis response and a "new" social
agenda, while the operational programs will outline
priorities and legislation. He specifically highlighted the
following Hungarian key program priorities: sustainable use
of natural resources and "water access issues"; sustainable
agricultural and fisheries programs; freedom, security and
justice program development - the Stockholm process; and EU
enlargement based on the Copenhagen criteria. Bartha
commented on the importance of the "Mediterranean initiative"
for Spain, but said that the "Eastern initiative" is
particularly important for Hungary.
5. Continuing, Bartha said that the Trio is working under the
assumption that Ireland will ratify the Lisbon treaty this
fall, and as such, it must be prepared to integrate those new
measures into the European Union. Szoke noted, however, that
Hungary does not foresee its own presidency being greatly
affected by such a development because most of the required
measures associated with the new treaty will already be in
place prior to its presidency.
--------------
SIX HUNDRED PERSON STAFF
--------------
6. While the GOH plans to formulate the details of its
presidency program during the first half of 2010, steps are
now underway to create the support structure. Bartha noted
that the government's 2010 budget to be submitted in
September will include funding for its presidency, but he did
not provide any specific figures. He stated that the GOH has
already selected approximately six hundred people to fill a
broad range of positions, with language and other general
training provided for them. In addition, the MFA is drawing
up a communications strategy with a focus on potential
cultural events during the presidency. Bartha also mentioned
a proposed EU-U.S. summit potentially scheduled during
Hungary's six-month presidency.
--------------
IMPACT OF NATIONAL ELECTIONS
--------------
7. With national elections scheduled for spring 2010, there
BUDAPEST 00000553 002 OF 002
is a strong likelihood that the opposition Fidesz party will
lead the next government. While this has the potential to
complicate planning, Bartha said that the current Socialist
government formed a working group with all five parliamentary
parties in order to reach a consensus on Hungarian goals
during its presidency. According to Bartha, the working
group has already met nine times, and he believes there are
few, if any, major issues in moving towards consensus on
Hungary's EU presidency agenda.
LEVINE