While the outgoing Belgian Presidency vowed to “continue operationalising the Strategic Compass and bolstering the EU’s resilience to new and hybrid challenges, as well as focusing on efforts to reinforce the technological and industrial base to ensure security of supply in terms of military capabilities”, the Hungarian Presidency staying true to its motto in 2011 for a “Stronger Europe” will hopefully continue this important task.
First of all, speeding up the integration of the Western Balkans candidates is a strategic priority, where the EU can physically strengthen its external borders through Schengen. This will be crucial in controlling migration, human and drug trafficking as well as expanding the EU’s geographical scope and economic influence.
Second, strengthening the EU’s own defence industrial base as laid down by the Commission and aligning it with PESCO projects and the Strategic Compass will be necessary for member states to bolster joint defence capabilities and harmonizing technologies outside of the usual NATO context. While the euro-atlantic security and defence alliance cannot be neglected, the European leg of defense will need to become more autonomous, capable and developed to be able to take on emerging threats such as cybercrime, hybrid warfare, disinformation and the undermining of European societies by external -state and non-state actors- alike.
The next six months will define the political direction – both in terms of the new President of the Commission and the NATO Secretary General – regarding which Hungary will have a significant role as a member of both the EU and NATO. This will also define the new relationship between the transatlantic defense alliance and the European Union on how well they can coordinate and cooperate regarding joint strategies.
The latest 2023 EU-NATO Joint Declaration has defined Russia’s aggressive war as one of the greatest threats to the continent’s security as well as instability in the neighborhood which needs responses that go beyond the traditional military means. Strengthening societies resilience is one of the key factors that can contribute to this effort, where the EU has financial and social tools at its disposal. The EU -and therefore Hungary- will need to look at the greater European landscape of security with constantly evolving threats -both online and offline- in order to resolve ongoing social unrest in the Western Balkans, political apathy in the EU and provide strategic guidance for the European Council.
In hindsight he EU elections have shown that many Western and Central Eastern European countries have had a low voter turnout with the lowest of 21% in Croatia, nevertheless the fifth highest was in Hungary with nearly 59,5% of voters going to the polls and in the latest Eurobarometer nearly 30% said defence policy should be at the heart of the Union. This shows that people are conscious of the worsening social and security environment and are giving EU leaders the mantle in providing a safer and stronger European Union. All in all, the upcoming Hungarian Presidency will have the chance to be at the helm of this important endeavor to also represent the Central European region with 20 years of membership experience which will be crucial for many candidate countries. The tasks will not be easy, nevertheless the continent is living in one of the most defining times in history, where decisions taken now, will be defining in the next years and decades to come.
Photo credit: boell.org
