| Hungarian heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the European Union Member States and to international organisations were summoned on January 8 to the Foreign Ministry for a one-day consultation on regional issues. The minister and his senior staff discussed tasks arising from the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty with the ambassadors. The preparations for Hungary’s EU presidency in the first half of 2011 were also on the agenda. The heads of missions informed the participants on the expectations dominating in their respective countries related to the future role of EU President Herman Van Rompuy and the new Foreign and Security Policy High Representative Catherine Ashton. This was considered essential since by virtue of the Lisbon Treaty Mr Van Rompuy will preside European Council sessions, while Lady Ashton will do the same at the Foreign Affairs Council. 
As regards preparations for Hungarian presidency, the training of the staff and cost estimates, as well as selection of the venues and the tentative presidency agenda were all reviewed at the meeting. The parliamentary committee supervising EU-Presidency preparations composed of all four parties present in the House is an important forum of political consultations and it should be the guarantee of a smooth transition if there is a change of government after the next general elections – this is what FM Balázs emphasised at the news conference between the morning and afternoon session. As regards the events of the Hungarian EU-Presidency in 2011 the Foreign Minister expects a lot of meetings in Hungary among them informal minister-level ones as well as consultations between the European Union and third countries. During these sessions “Hungary’s leadership capacities at a European level will be scrutinized” – Mr Balázs added, considering that around 250 council formation working group meetings should be headed by Hungarians.   At the news conference the Foreign Minister introduced Tibor Kiss, the new State Secretary for European Affairs, and Gábor Iván, the new head of our Permanent Representation at the European Union. (January 8, 2010) |