LUDOVIKA UNIVERSITY OF PUBLIC SERVICE

Questions on the EU's enlargement policy

On January 23, the Ludovika University of Public Service (LUPS) and the Hanns-Seidel Foundation organized an international conference titled Ready for Expansion? – From the Perspective of Candidate Countries and the European Union in the university's St. Ladislaus Chapel.

In his opening speech, László Szegedi, the Vice-Rector for Education at LUPS, emphasized the honor of hosting the event at the university. He highlighted the importance of dialogue about the future, open communication, and the university's role in fostering development and community engagement.

Markus Ehm, the Central European Director of the Hanns-Seidel Foundation (HSS), underscored the foundation's commitment to engaging with communities and policymakers, focusing on European integration and economic development. He introduced the foundation's new campaign aimed at enhancing education and advocacy, addressing the challenges of growth and integration. Ehm thanked the participants and encouraged ongoing discussions, recognizing the region's significance in global development.

Hungarian Minister for European Union Affairs János Bóka stated in his opening remarks, "Ukraine's accession to the European Union would ruin the Hungarian economy." He cited that Kyiv's unfriendly actions towards the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia and issues related to natural gas and oil transit are topics that question Ukraine's commitment to loyal cooperation. Bóka argued that under current circumstances, Ukraine's accession would not bring peace but would instead introduce war into the EU. He stressed the political aspects of enlargement, describing it as primarily a political decision, and elaborated on the factors behind these decisions. He also emphasized the transparency of Hungary's EU presidency and the importance of bilateral trade and legal frameworks in the future.

Serbian Minister for EU Integration Tanja Miščević addressed various topics, including economic development, energy, and negotiations within European institutions. She discussed the origins of the EU and ways to connect economic and political dimensions, citing examples like the 1980s expansion. Miščević highlighted the importance of creating new administrative processes to support changes and the need for a vision to guide reforms.

Christian Schmidt, Vice President of the Hanns-Seidel Foundation, emphasized the importance of utilizing internal potential to promote awareness and cooperation. He highlighted the role of meetings and conferences as platforms for sharing ideas and improving understanding. He expressed his intention to discuss several key issues, stressing the need for action and cooperation within the European Union. As he said, these issues reflect the complexity of European integration and the importance of community involvement in tackling societal issues, as well as the need for collective efforts to address challenges, while promoting unity and commitment to public policy.

A roundtable discussion titled The New Methodology of Enlargement, the "Foundations," and the Preparedness of Candidate Countries featured Ambassador Péter Mocsáry, HSS Vice President Christian Schmidt, Ministry of European Union Affairs Advisor László Sinka, LUPS Faculty of Public Governance and International Studies (FPGIS) lecturer Csaba Zalai. The roundtable discussion was moderated by Boglárka Koller head of department of LUPS Europe Studies Department. The panelists discussed topics such as geopolitical situations, the relationship between identity and community, and challenges in teaching and political practices within European institutions, particularly the EU. The discussion also addressed structural reforms, economic issues, intermediate measures, the impact of COVID-19, and the relevance of academic experiences.

Text: Éva Harangozó

Photo: Dénes Szilágyi