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Hungary takes over the six-month Presidency of the Council of the EU on 1st July. Euractiv has seen and reviewed Hungary’s indicative plan for energy, transport and the environment during its six months as Council President.
Though the Hungarians will inherit ongoing legislative files from the current Belgian Presidency, the term will be quieter in terms of lawmaking. Their Presidency overlaps with the end of the EU’s five-year cycle. A new European Commission should take office in the early autumn and will need time to identify its priorities to set work plans.
Here is where Hungary expects to focus its efforts:
Energy
The Presidency does not expect to progress any law proposals.
Instead, it will focus on the promotion of geothermal energy. Hungary’s decision to put geothermal energy on the agenda, came after the European Parliament and the Committee of the Regions voted almost unanimously, in favour of a European strategy on geothermal energy earlier this year.
A conference on this subject will be held in Budapest on 29 September 2024.
The Hungarian Presidency also plans to discuss the 27 National Energy and Climate Plans and the development of electricity grids.
Transport
The new Hungarians expects the Council to negotiate with the European Parliament on compromise texts concerning driving license rules, better measurement of transport emissions, and the mandate of the European Maritime Safety Agency.
They will work on agreeing Council positions on laws concerning passenger rights, intermodal freight transport and EU-wide driver disqualifications, for serious offences.
Finally, if the Belgian Presidency does not conclude negotiations with the Parliament, Hungary would like to find a deal on better use of rail infrastructure capacity in Europe.
Environment
Hungary will aim to advance negotiations with the Parliament on proposed laws concerning soil health, greenwashing rules, water pollutants and waste treatment and recycling.
They will also try to reach a Council position on microplastic restrictions.
The contested Nature Restoration Law, which is likely to remain unadopted, is not listed in the Hungarian’s indicative plan.
[Edited by Donagh Cagney/Rajnish Singh]
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