More and more European citizens are sceptical about the EU truly representing the interests of the people, “and they often feel that the decisions are made too far away from them and over their heads”, therefore the Union has to regain their trust, said Enikő Győri, Minister of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responsible for EU Affairs.

The Minister of State spoke to the news agency after attending the Informal Meeting of Ministers and State Secretaries for European Affairs in Dublin on 20-23rd January 2013.

Enikő Győri explained that based on the recommendation of the Irish EU Presidency, the two topics on the agenda of the meeting were democratic legitimacy and accountability, as well as the current state of enlargement. She was on the opinion that discussion on both topics was extremely timely.

She pointed out with respect to democratic legitimacy that showing results in crisis management and economic governance is the best way to increase the trust of citizens in the Union; we have to convince people that these steps are not against but for them.

She recalled that the Lisbon Treaty clearly outlines the scope of issues under EU and under Member State competences. She was on the opinion that it would be important to establish democratic accountability in both cases.

National parliaments should be involved more for issues under Member State competence, thereby strengthening accountability, said Enikő Győri. She said that the European Parliament (EP) should play a larger role when EU affairs are at stake. Therefore in Dublin, they also discussed the techniques to be used at the 2014 EP elections to bring the EU bodies closer to the people said the Minister of State.

With respect to enlargement, Enikő Győri said that Hungary urged for the earliest signing of a Stability and Association Agreement with Kosovo and if Turkey can present progress, to open at least one chapter with them in order to continue the accession talks. She added: it was also important to ratify the Accession Treaty of Croatia for the Member States that have not yet done so.

The Minister of State emphasized that candidate countries should not be made to wait once they achieve progress in their integration process, because this can discourage them.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)