Hungary takes EU presidency echoing Trump but likely to lack bite

1/7/2024 12:08

        Hungary's nationalist government launches its presidency of the European Union on Monday with a Trump-like call to "Make Europe Great Again" after EU lawmakers questioned whether it should be allowed to take on the role.
        
        Their concerns are based on Prime Minister Viktor Orban's many clashes with Brussels over democratic norms.
        
        Hungarian diplomats say the country will be an honest broker, while analysts say Budapest's actions at the forefront of EU policy-making are likely to be restricted given that Brussels is in a transition phase following elections in June.
        
        The presidency's role is to set the agenda, chair meetings of EU members in all fields except foreign or euro zone matters, seek consensus among EU member states and broker agreements on legislation with the European Parliament.
        
        It will take months for a new European Commission and the new members of parliament to be in their stride, analysts say.