Ukrainian restrictions on crude deliveries breach numerous provisions of the EU association agreement, János Bóka, the EU affairs minister, told a government news briefing. When it comes to cases requiring urgent measures, the European Commission will launch a consultation process with Ukraine within three days at the initiative of member states, though arbitration can also be initiated in the absence of a satisfactory outcome, the minister said. Hungary is also examining whether the crude delivery restrictions breach WTO and Energy Charter rules, Bóka added.
On another subject, he said the heads of the European Parliament European affairs committees will hold a meeting in Parliament on Monday, marking the end of the first phase of Hungary’s EU presidency. The security and defence policy ad hoc working group has been put on a permanent footing and an agreement in principle has been reached on the 2025 EU budget, Bóka said, listing the presidency’s achievements so far. The next summit meeting of the European Political Community will be held in Budapest on Nov 7, with an informal meeting of the European Council to be held the next day, he added.
So far, five EU bodies have held informal meetings in Brussels and Budapest, the minister said, adding that these covered issues such as competitiveness, artificial intelligence, electric car manufacturing, preparations form the next climate summit, water management, cross-border pollution, the circular economy, challenges related to the energy framework by 2030 and the potentials of geothermal energy. EU ministers also reviewed the political priorities in the areas of justice and home affairs, Bóka said, noting that the aim was to adopt a five-year document in this area. The meetings in question also touched on ensuring more effective data access for border control and asylum organisations, he said. Meanwhile, EU health ministers discussed cardiovascular diseases and organ donation, Bóka said.
Agriculture ministers talked about the long-term viability of rural areas, finance ministers discussed the EC’s calls for excessive deficit procedures, and labour and social affairs ministers debated the challenges of labour shortages and the integration of those with disabilities into the labour market, among other things, he added. During this time, the committee in charge of immigration, borders and asylum visited Szeged and Hungary’s southern border, Bóka said, adding that EU defence policy directors and the directors-general in charge of cohesion policy also held meetings in Hungary.