Hungarian Minister of EU Affairs János Bóka gave an in-depth interview to Hungarian conservative daily Magyar Nemzet. During the discussion, he spoke in detail about the atmosphere at the Budapest summits last week, Hungary’s role, and the political changes expected in the near future. Transatlantic relations, the management of the migration crisis, and economic and security challenges were among the main topics discussed. Bóka also highlighted that the Hungarian EU Presidency played a key role in the successful organization of the European Political Community (EPC) summit and the European Council informal meeting that followed. According to him, Hungary has made significant political progress in several areas.
The summits were characterized by openness and anticipation. According to János Bóka, the organizers’ attitude and the structure of the events allowed for a truly open and frank exchange of views. ‘The atmosphere in Hungary makes you feel free: the participants felt that there was a more colourful and direct dialogue in Hungary than in most other countries in Europe,’ the minister said. The EPC summit served as a forum for genuine, informal discussions that helped to clarify both European and global issues.
Before the summit the expectation was further reinforced by the outcome of the US presidential election, which János Bóka assessed as the beginning of a new era in global relations. At the heart of the discussions was the question of ‘the role that Europe and Europeans can play in the new world order, which is likely to be accelerated by the inauguration of President Trump.’ The impact of US policy changes was especially significant for transatlantic relations and European strategy.
He highlighted Hungary’s significant role in shaping the atmosphere of the summits. The organizers not only provided the venue but also actively contributed to the selection of topics and participants. The aim was to present a comprehensive range of European perspectives, offering opportunities for Central European, Atlanticist, Turkish, and Western Balkan approaches to be present at the same times. ‘I don’t think there has ever been a European Political Community summit where we have heard successively from the Hungarian Prime Minister, the Ukrainian, French, and Turkish Presidents, the Danish Prime Minister, and then the Serbian President on the security challenges facing Europe,’ Bóka pointed out, emphasizing the exceptional nature of the meetings. The ‘fruitful and inspiring dialogue’ gave participants the chance to approach security and political issues from diverse perspectives.
János Bóka pointed out that the informal nature of the discussions at the summit ensured genuine honesty, as the leaders were not subject to press and public pressure. Discussions at the EPC summit with the Ukrainian, Turkish, and Serbian presidents were particularly robust, generating sharp political debates that the minister described as unprecedented. ‘I have never been to a summit where such a sharp and intense political discourse was generated,’ he said, highlighting the special importance of the meeting.
The minister considers the most important achievement to be the orientation debate on the strategic challenges facing Europe. This provided a solid foundation for future discussions on transatlantic relations. An agreement was also reached on the future of the Community, with the aim of exploring the possibility of creating support institutions to make the dialogue more structured. The long-term objective is to develop the European Political Community into a platform for the European security system.
‘I have never been to a summit where such a sharp and intense political discourse was generated’
The Budapest Declaration, adopted at the informal European Council also in Budapest, aims to strengthen European competitiveness. According to Bóka, the document sends a particularly important political message, outlining the priorities for the European institutions over the next five years. The minister underlined that it was Hungary’s proposal to focus on competitiveness and economic security issues and that Hungary had made a significant contribution to ensuring that illegal migration remains on the EU’s agenda.
Migration was also a central theme of the summit. More and more EU countries are realizing that the current migration policy is not working, János Bóka noted. ‘Pro-immigration policies are destroying European countries,’ he stated, referring to the growing violence, terrorist threats, and public security issues that have resulted from migration. At the summit, leaders discussed new and innovative ways to better address illegal migration. One suggestion was the creation of reception centres outside Europe, where asylum applications from irregular migrants would be assessed, and only those who are eligible would be allowed to enter the EU. The more effective management of deportations was also discussed, including the creation of facilities to house those awaiting deportation.
According to János Bóka, the outcome of the US election, particularly Trump’s re-election, could have a significant impact on the outcome of the Russo–Ukrainian war. Hungary believes that Trump’s re-election could ‘accelerate’ the end of the war and open a new chapter for Europe. Bóka expressed hope that the political changes in the US, and specifically Trump’s presidency, could help Europe recognize its own strategic interests and gain more room for manoeuvre in global politics.
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