European Union affairs minister János Bóka said on Tuesday that he had held consultation talks with leaders and representatives of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) about the priorities of Hungary’s upcoming EU presidency program which is currently being finalized.
After a special session of the EESC’s presidency in Budapest, representing the first official event under the arrangements of the program, Bóka said he had requested the EU consultative body’s exploratory opinion in ten areas including competitiveness, cohesion policy, challenges facing the EU and the future of the EU’s common agricultural policy. He added that he planned to maintain close cooperation with the body during the entire presidency and involve them not only in preparing the priorities but also in their implementation. Oliver Röpke, the president of EESC, said that he was in agreement with Tibor Navracsics, the minister of public administration and regional development, that a strong cohesion policy was needed in the future, especially considering the EU’s planned enlargement. In order to implement a stronger cohesion policy, the available financial framework’s resources need to be increased, he added.