| At a plenary meeting of the European Parliament on January 20, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero presented the programme of Spain’s six-month EU presidency, thereby launching the Spain-Belgium-Hungary trio presidency. In his presentation Prime Minister Zapatero pointed out that Spain and the trio presidency would like to advance the acceptance of further EU measures aimed towards the emergence from the economic crisis. In a wider sense, this goal means that the economic and financial system should operate on a more stable and sustainable model, he added. The trio puts particular emphasis on strengthening social cohesion, fighting unemployment, making use of sustainable natural resources, as well as further development in the areas of liberty, security and the rule of law. After the presentation, Jerzy Buzek, the President of the European Parliament, met the Spanish prime minister and the state secretaries in charge of European affairs of the two other members of the trio presidency. The Parliament’s president welcomed the close cooperation of the trio characterising their work in the interest of jointly concluding the programme as exemplary. Mr Buzek emphasised that the European Parliament continued to regard the term presidency of the Council as one of its most important partners. Mr Kiss, State Secretary at the Foreign Ministry told the President of the European Parliament that the in eighteen months ahead we all must find the solutions to the common challenges facing Europe. For this the trio provides the required unity and Hungary is committed to the EU finding the appropriate responses to the most important current issues such as recovery from the economic crisis, job creation, strengthening the European social model, the fight against climate change, energy policy and neighbourhood policy. The State Secretary pointed out that Hungary must start preparations for the next financial perspective and related policy debates. Hungary should also like to pay particular attention to water management – within the framework of the Danube Region Strategy to be launched during the Hungarian EU presidency – as well as advancing the integration outlook of the countries of the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership. (January 20, 2010) |