Hungary hosted an informal meeting of the ministers of EU Member States responsible for employment and social policy last week, 9–10 October in Budapest, Hungary. Minister of State for Employment Policy Sándor Czomba emphasized the need to increase the economic competitiveness of the EU bloc.
‘We have put the most important challenge at the top of our flag: that is, how to maintain and, where appropriate, increase the competitiveness of the European Union and its Member States in today’s economic environment. Obviously, the question of the coming days, weeks, and months is how we can mutually draw from this good practice, from each other’s experiences’, Minister of State Czomba told the audience.
Addressing labour shortages and enhancing social inclusion were the central themes of the conference. However, the Hungarian presidency also prioritizes EU competitiveness and addressing demographic challenges.
🎤"We have set ourselves the goal of how to maintain and, where appropriate, increase the competitiveness of the EU and its Member States in today's economic environment. We (the European Union) are falling behind in this respect, and one of the most important factors in… pic.twitter.com/wth2SgIhM9
— Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2024 (@HU24EU) October 10, 2024
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary has stressed multiple times in the past that ‘making Europe competitive again’ is one of the key topics on the agenda for Hungary’s presidency of the Council of the EU. In fact, he held an hour-long lecture at the Ludovika University of Public Service last month on this very topic.
Minister for National Economy Márton Nagy of Hungary was with State Secretary Czomba at the informal meeting of EU ministers. He talked about his hope that an 85 per cent labour participation rate is achievable in Hungary if ‘if the internal labour market reserve can be mobilized’.
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