At the end of the Hungarian EU Presidency, and since I started this blog specifically to cover this period, I should say something about Hungary’s performance in this role.
When I focus in on the business agenda, and ignore some of the media coverage that has happened, the Hungarian Presidency has gone well. It hasn’t been a flashy Presidency, but much-needed legislation and business of importance to the EU as a whole has been steered through in a professional and competent manner. And perhaps this is the character of a post-Lisbon Treaty Presidency – fewer big set pieces, less eye-catching but none the less necessary work, often behind the scenes and unsung. Hungary rightly gets good marks from its partners for this achievement.
The challenge now is to preserve the expertise and skill that has been built up. It is only when a New Member State has held the Presidency for the first time that it can really understand how to use the EU to best effect. This was certainly the UK experience many years ago and I am sure this will hold true for Hungary.
I am about to go on 3 weeks’ leave. (And in 6 months my time is up – I have to leave this fascinating country for another posting.) But I think when I come back from my holiday I plan to continue this blog for a while. Partly to see how Hungary develops in this post-Presidency phase and partly because the excellent Sziget Music and Cultural Festival is due in August, which in the past has given me plenty to blog about.