Hungary has unveiled its top priorities for when it takes up its presidency of the European Council in just a few weeks, as well as the logo and slogan for its term: an image of a Rubik's cube puzzle and a Trumpesque vow to "Make Europe Great Again".
Belgium will wrap up its six month tenure at the end of June, and Hungary will take over the presidency from 1 July until the end of December.
For the last six months, Belgium has steered its presidency under the motto "Protect. Strengthen. Prepare.", focusing on six key areas: defending rule of law, democracy and unity; strengthening competitiveness; pursuing a green and just transition; reinforcing the social and health agenda; protecting people and borders, and promoting a global Europe.
In a press conference launching the Hungarian Council presidency on Tuesday, the Hungarian government unveiled its new slogan, to "Make Europe Great Again".
Hungarian Minister for European Union Affairs, János Bóka, said that the slogan communicates that Member States should be stronger together than individually, but should be allowed to "be who [they] are" when they come together.
He added that the slogan also portrays the idea that Europe can be an independent global actor, able to assert its interests and "act accordingly with partners and allies if possible, and alone if needed".
When questioned by journalists on the resemblance of the slogan to that of Donald Trump's US presidency campaign, Minister Bóka said he didn't know if Donald Trump had ever wanted to make Europe great again.
The Hungarian government has also chosen to incorporate a Rubik's Cube (invented by Hungarian Ernő Rubik) into its logo for the presidency, noting that it represents Hungarian "ingenuity, creativity, strategic thinking and sophistication", as well as the complicated nature of European affairs that can initially seem impossible to solve.
Hungary's logo for its upcoming presidency of the European Council. Credit: Hungarian Presidency/ Hungarian government
Hungary has set out seven key priorities for its presidency, including strengthening defence policy, addressing migration by increasing the efficiency of returns enforcement, and developing an economy-focused agricultural policy.
Other priorities listed are stimulating economic growth with a new European competitiveness pact, promoting a consistent and merit-based enlargement policy, facilitating a strategic debate on the future of cohesion policy, and addressing an ageing European society.
Minister Bóka said that Hungary intends to be an "honest broker" in terms of co-operating with every Member State and institution, but that it has a strong mandate and a vision of an alternative Europe which will be represented in its work.
The presidency of the European Council rotates between all EU Member States, with each Member State getting its turn at the helm every 13-and-a-half years, when it is responsible for driving forward the Council's work on EU legislation and legislative processes, the EU agenda, as well as co-operation between Member States.
Member States work in trios, setting long term goals and a common agenda for an 18-month period as each of the three countries prepares a more detailed six-month programme. Hungary is the final Member State to take up the presidency in a trio with Belgium and Spain.
