Budapest aims to ‘Make Europe Great Again’ when it takes the reins next month
Hungary has announced that the slogan for its upcoming presidency of the European Union will be ‘Make Europe Great Again’.
Observers have noted the similarity to the ‘Make America Great Again’ (MAGA) motto used by Donald Trump during his successful US presidential campaign in 2016.
Hungary is set to take over the presidency of the Council of the European Union on July 1 and will remain in charge until the end of the year. During this six-month period, Hungarian diplomats will chair meetings in Brussels and shape the EU’s political agenda.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Hungary’s minister for European Union Affairs, Janos Boka, said the slogan reflects a proactive presidency and aims to demonstrate that “together we are stronger than apart,” according to local media.
Boka also played down the similarity between Hungary’s motto and that of Trump’s, jokingly saying that “I am not aware that Donald Trump has ever wanted to make Europe great,” according to Agence France-Presse.
Hungary is taking over the EU reins in “a very difficult environment,” he added, citing “a war in our neighborhood” in reference to the Ukraine conflict. He also mentioned illegal immigration as another critical issue the region must address.
Boka went on to say that “we should be allowed to remain who we are when we come together,” according to Politico.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has faced criticism within the EU for pursuing policies that contradict those of Brussels.
Since the start of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Budapest has refused to provide weapons to Kiev, advocating for a diplomatic solution instead, and has maintained economic ties with Russia.
Earlier this year, Orban traveled to the US to meet with Republican presidential frontrunner Trump. Following the talks, the Hungarian prime minister claimed that Trump had shown himself to be “pro-peace.” That stance aligns with Hungary’s position, unlike the current US administration and many EU members, Orban added.
Trump, in turn, described Orban as a “fantastic” leader.
Hungary has also faced criticism in the EU for following its own migration policy, seemingly contradicting the bloc’s rules. The European Court of Justice (ICJ) imposed a €200 million ($216 million) fine on Budapest last week for restricting access to international protection procedures and illegally removing third-country nationals.
Defending his stance on Ukraine aid and immigration, Orban has argued that his policies aim to protect the interests of the Hungarian people.