Hungary pushes for new EU competitiveness pact

Budapest (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Hungarian European Union presidency strives to outline a new European competitiveness agreement by the time of the informal summit of the European Council, to be held in Budapest on November 8, the EU affairs minister stated. 

Talking after the informal meeting of the EU General Affairs Council in Budapest, János Bóka informed a press conference that participants arranged that demographic issues should be factored into EU decision-making more and represented in EU policies. The panel has looked at ways in which “better, high-quality lawmaking and the rule of law within EU institutions” could contribute to boosting competitiveness, Bóka stated. 

Can Improve EU Lawmaking Boost European Competitiveness?

“Participants have decided that there is room for improvement in the quality of the EU’s legislative process by running more focused impact studies, considering member states’ specific qualities, and including the appropriate economic players in the decision-making process. 

At a conference, participants discussed methods to free up the human resources necessary to boost competitiveness and economic resources for new initiatives. “Investment in modern technology, cutting the dependence on third countries, a unified digital market, and the development of R and I are crucial for a new European competitiveness pact,” Bóka stated. 

How Will Falling Demographics Impact Europe’s Global Position?

Concerning demographic challenges, Bóka expressed that their importance was par with the ongoing green and digital growth. “The solidifying trend of falling demographics in member states will lead to a mere 3.7 per cent of the world’s population living in Europe by 2070, which raises serious questions regarding the competitiveness of the continent as well as its position in the world. [Representatives of] the member states have shared their policies regarding population decline and ageing populations at a working lunch, and we touched on the importance of training and re-training and family policy,” Bóka said. 

Bóka was questioned whether Hungary was going to pay a 200 million euro penalty by the September 17 deadline charged by the Court of Justice of the European Union for what the court called breaches of the EU’s migration policy. Bóka expressed the government was looking into the legal options of gaining compensation from the EU for its costs incurred in border protection. 

How Is Hungary Addressing EU Criticism on Border Protection?

Ensuring that Hungary has received “another letter” concerning the fine, Bóka said “Hungary has been making steps above and beyond its capabilities to defend the external borders of the EU, which has consumed considerable financial and human resources, as well as political capital. Rather than the EU offering solidarity, we have received a court ruling setting a serious fine. The Hungarian government will have to consider the political, budgetary and social consequences of paying that fine,” he stated.