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Hungary’s Tibor Navracsics says EU is experiencing one of the hardest periods of its history

The European commissioner for education, culture youth and sport said that securing economic growth and promoting a stable, peaceful European community will remain in the focus of the European Commission’s efforts during the remainder of its mandate

Hungary’s Tibor Navracsics has told parliament’s European affairs committee that the European Union is experiencing one of the hardest periods of its history.

Navracsics said that in addition to the still alarming conditions of the Greek budget and domestic affairs, the EU is also facing a migration crisis and the Brexit talks. These historic events make it difficult for the commission to keep up with its original program.

The European commissioner for education, culture youth and sport said that securing economic growth and promoting a stable, peaceful European community will remain in the focus of the European Commission’s efforts during the remainder of its mandate.

According to MTI, the two main goals that the EC declared at the beginning of its mandate were gradual economic improvements and proximity, he added. Economic growth will remain one of the most important issues in the remaining period, he said. European economies now progress on the right path and the EU has used its own resources to recover from the crisis and remain a crucial player in the world economy, Navracsics said.

When asked about CEU, Navracsics said that under the best-case scenario all problems would be clarified and resolved through a dialog between the Hungarian government and the EC. However, if they fail to strike a compromise, then the EC may turn to the European Court of Justice, he added. CEU is an important institution of Hungary’s higher education that must be valued and preserved, he said. All efforts must be made to enable it to continue its operation under the new conditions, he added, noting that he had repeatedly offered to mediate in the negotiations.