Hungary „stands prepared” to take over the presidency of the European Union on July 1, the state secretary for European Union affairs ministry said on Facebook on Saturday, noting that in the current political and economic environment and amid the community’s institutional transition, filling the post would be „an extremely exciting challenge”. Pál Barna Zsigmond quoted European Council President Charles Michel as saying that he was reassured and hopeful concerning the Hungarian presidency, and noted that currently Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was the only head of government in the EU that would head the rotating presidency for the second time. He said Hungary’s 2011 presidency had been successful, adding that „on basis of those experiences the Hungarian government is getting ready for the next one.”