The sport related tasks of the Hungarian EU Presidency came to an end with the Informal Meeting of EU Sport Directors. On the final meeting day, chaired by Attila Czene, State Minister for Sport of the Ministry of National Resources, the sport directors discussed about the common challenges faced by European sport, the cooperation with third countries and the role of volunteering in sport. Mr. Pál Szekeres deputy state secretary for sport also participated at the meeting.
The two-day Informal Meeting of EU Sport Directors is being held in Gödöllő as the official closing event of the Hungarian EU Presidency’s sport issues, chaired by Attila Czene, Minister of State for Sport of the Ministry of National Resources.
At their meeting held in the Ministry of Defence, MoD Parliamentary State Secretary Dr. István Simicskó and Brig-Gen. Deborah A. Ashenhurst, Adjutant General, Ohio National Guard discussed Hungary’s role in ISAF, Afghanistan, the volunteer reserve system and the possibilities for sharing the lessons learned in the field of disaster relief.
Minister for Rural Development Sándor Fazekas took part in the Hungaricum festival entitled "Greetings from Hungary" early on Wednesday afternoon on Brussels' historical main square.
The final session of the Agricultural and Fisheries Council during the Hungarian Presidency was held in Luxembourg, where Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki, Commissioner for Agriculture Dacian Cioloş and Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy John Dalli all judged the past six months as having been extremely successful. All three thanked the Hungarian Presidency for its conscientious and outstanding work.
Organised by the Hungarian EU Presidency, the 56th meeting of EUPAN – the European network of directors general responsible for public administration in the European Union – was held in Gödöllő on 23-24 June 2011. It was also attended by representatives of Trade Unions’ National and European administration Delegation (TUNED).
On the invitation of Interior Minister Sándor Pintér the Polish Minister of Interior Jerzy Miller arrived on Monday to Budapest. The primary aim of the summit was that the two parties review the achievements of the Hungarian EU Presidency and discuss the on-going, open dossiers.
The Ministry of National Development informs the railway undertakings that in the year 2011 – based on the contract between the Ministry and MAV Co. – there is a possibility for railway undertakings operating „rolling motorway” (Ro-La) freight transport to apply for subsidy according to the following conditions.
“Our aim is to establish a police service that is prepared to manage ethnic conflicts” – said Interior Minister Sándor Pintér at the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) at the Opening Ceremony of the “Best practices in Multicultural Policing” two-day long international seminar.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán considers the bilateral meetings with Wen Jiabao, Chinese premier to an extraordinary success, marking a milestone in Chinese-Hungarian relations. The Chinese Premier, who came for a two-day visit to Hungary, had talks with the Hungarian Prime Minister on Saturday in the Parliament Building.
Stable agricultural markets and predictable prices are in the interests of both the EU and Hungary - said Minister for Rural Development Sándor Fazekas, summarising the discussions held during the meeting of the Agricultural Ministers of the G20 nations in Paris.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs appreciates that the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe welcomes the fact that the new Hungarian Constitution establishes a constitutional order based on democracy, the rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights as underlying principles.
The Justice and Home Affairs Council of the European Union adopted the Budapest Roadmap for victim protection on 10 June. The Roadmap creates the possibility for Europe-wide protection of victims.
The parties attending the plenary session of the Hungarian-Chinese Joint Economic Committee in Hungarian Parliament on 22 June 2011 discussed new initiatives with the aim of expanding and intensifying bilateral business and trade cooperation. With the Hungarian party led by of National Development and Government Commissioner for Hungarian-Chinese Economic Relations Tamás Fellegi, the intergovernmental talks focused on air transport, research and development, environment protection, the application of water purification technologies, cooperation options in car industry and the specification of mutual investment projects.
Although the end of the Hungarian Presidency is approaching, work on EU affairs goes on, with the Polish partners soon to get into the focus, Minister of State for Infocommunication Zsolt Nyitrai said at the Telecommunication and Information Society Dossiers delivery ceremony on 22 June 2011 in Eger. The Polish Presidency was represented by Undersecretaries of State Magdalena Gaj and Piotr Kołodziejczyk.
Hungary is to sign the Nagoya Protocol in New York on behalf of the European Union. The worldwide treaty will be jointly signed by Hungary and the EU's Ambassador in New York. In addition to Hungary, the globally valid agreement on access to genetic resources and the profits arising from these will be signed by a further eight EU Member States.
Member States have voted to support the compromise on the labelling of foods that has been agreed between the Hungarian Presidency and the European Parliament. The goal of the new measures is to make it easier for consumers to recognise and decide which foodstuffs are healthier. The new EU regulation on the labelling of food products will be adopted at the plenary meeting of the European Parliament on July 5.
The goal of the conservation project, realised within the territory of the Danube-Dráva National Park with World Bank assistance, is the reduction of the nutrient load of the Danube and the Black Sea. As a result of the project, ordered by the South Transdanubian Environment Protection and Water Management Directorate, the aquatic habitats of the Gemenc and Béda-Karapancsa areas, which were seriously endangered by lasting dryness, are coming to life once again.
Viewpoints on the global climate protection system moved closer in Bonn at the two-week UN Conference held with the participation of some 3500 representatives of more than 190 countries. During the marathon series of negotiations closed on 17 June 2011, the Hungarian Presidency made remarkable efforts at preserving the Kyoto quota assets.
The final meeting of the Environmental Council to take place during the Hungarian Presidency was held on June 21. As a result of the successful work of the Presidency and in accordance with our plans, Europe has made significant progress in several important areas within the field of environmental protection.