16 May 2025

​​​The series of parliamentary events related to the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2024 was closed by the Conference of Speakers of the EU Parliaments on 11-12 May 2025 in Budapest. “The European Union, built from the bottom up by the sovereign states of nations in a spirit of subsidiarity, and the United States of Europe as an empire dominated by private powers, are mutually exclusive” – emphasized among others the host of the Conference Kövér László, Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly.

The event was attended by the Speakers, Deputy Speakers and representatives of the chambers of the national parliaments of the EU Member States, the President of the European Parliament and, with consulting rights, from the candidate countries the Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the parliaments of Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia, and, as special invitees, Switzerland, Norway and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe was also represented. The Conference was opened by Kövér László, followed by a speech by Orbán Viktor, Prime Minister of Hungary, who stressed that the fate of the EU Member States and the role of national parliaments will be determined in the coming decades by the answer to two questions: the protection of national sovereignty and the problems arising from the possible accession of Ukraine to the EU.

During the conference on the future of Europe the Speakers exchanged views in two thematic sessions. In his introductory remarks during the session on “The future European Union: general perspectives, federalism or national sovereignty” the Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly specified the uncertainties surrounding the assessment of the future of Europe. He outlined the importance of restoring the balance between the transatlantic political cooperation, the institutions of the Union and the Member States, as well as between the public state power based on the common good and public interest and the global private economic powers. He also highlighted the dangers of increasing indebtedness of public authorities and the influence of creditors outside Europe.

The Speakers then continued their exchange of views on the topic of ”Closer to voters: regionalism in Europe, and safeguarding Europe’s cultural identity”. In his opening remarks, the Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly drew attention to the importance of Europe's Christian and national identity. He stressed that it is an important task of the state to guarantee the protection of the national identity of its citizens and underlined that the right to national identity should be part of the latest generation of universal human rights.

In his closing speech, Kövér László stressed that Hungary is interested in a strong European Union, even if it may have a very different opinion on the path to this goal. The conference concluded with the adoption of the Presidency conclusions.

Read more about the Conference of Speakers of the EU Parliaments.