Belgian PM to Orbán: EU Presidency does not mean you are the boss of Europe

The two-day summit of EU heads of state and government began on Thursday.

On the first day, decisions were made on the top EU posts, but within just a few days there will also be a change in a post where member states rotate every six months. From 1 July, the Hungarian government will hold the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union for six months.

Thus, the press conference at the end of the first day of the summit was also the occasion to bid farewell to the current Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, who has held the presidency of the Council for the past six months. Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán will have to face the press in his place at the next EU summit and, in response to a question from journalists, De Croo gave his successor some advice. He wished Viktor Orbán and Hungary all the best in continuing the work and he highlighted the importance of supporting Ukraine and the transition to the new institutional cycle.

"The presidency does not mean you are the boss of Europe but that you are the one who has to make a compromise." He continued by saying that it is an interesting position to be in at least once in your lifetime, "so I can definitely recommend it to Mr Orbán",

De Croo said with a huge smile, his advice greeted with laughter in the press room. (To watch the scene, click here.)

Charles Michel, the outgoing president of the European Council also gave his advice, stressing the subject of competitiveness, among others, which is also a priority for the incoming Hungarian presidency. We need to be determined to support international law and to support Ukraine, to make sure that we do not develop double standards and must support fundamental rights always and everywhere without making exceptions, he said.