Joint press release · 3 July 2024
The Civil EU Presidency Has Started
Civil society organisations launched a seven-event programme addressing issues left out of the official Hungarian EU Presidency programme. Their priorities: democracy, solidarity and the green transition.
Each event focused on an important social issue. During the semester, participants discussed the state of European forests, water resilience, a just green transition, national and EU battery strategies, Roma inclusion, women’s participation in public life and civic space in Hungary and the EU.
The programme was organised jointly by the Great Lakes and Wetlands Association and the Civilisation Coalition, in parallel with—but independently of—the Hungarian EU Presidency.
Zoltán Kun, President of the Great Lakes and Wetlands Association, said:
“The Civil EU Presidency aims to amplify the voice of civil society. The EU Presidency is an opportunity for Hungary. By presenting their professional positions and scientific evidence, civil society organisations want to help ensure that well-considered strategies are developed at both national and EU level.”
Several events addressed environmental issues. Zoltán Kun stressed that Hungary is no longer a water superpower and the status of waters is deteriorating across the EU. Reversing these trends requires strategic planning, a change in approach, good practices and scientific evidence. Only 14% of protected forest habitats in the EU are in favourable condition; forest naturalness must be improved, new legislation is needed and forest exploitation must end.
Andrea Szaszkó Töplerné of Göd-Ért and AKÁRTEIS highlighted the downsides of battery production: its economic viability and impacts on air, soil, water, noise, waste management and society.
Jutka Bari of the Green Legal Platform pointed out that responses to the climate crisis often deepen social inequalities. Rising food, energy and housing costs and more expensive public services affect disadvantaged people most. The European Green Deal must address these challenges to make the green transition just.
Edina Hajnal, representing MENŐK, noted that the share of women in the Hungarian Parliament has remained around 10% for decades and that Hungary was among the few countries without a woman in government. The programme therefore aimed to strengthen women’s communities and enable prepared, informed women to enter public life and represent women’s interests democratically.
András Nun, Director of the Autonomia Foundation and representative of the EGALIPE Network for Roma Equality, explained that all EU Member States must update their Roma strategies by 2026. The work needed to begin in 2024, using international exchange to identify good practices and strengthen dialogue between Roma organisations and governments.
Veronika Móra, Director of the Ökotárs Foundation, emphasised the importance of strengthening civil society. Although important EU initiatives had been launched, they could not offset increasingly widespread anti-civil-society measures in some Member States. Joint action and stronger EU-level protection were necessary.
The issues are connected: weakening European democracies, the breakdown of social cohesion and the environmental crisis must be addressed together through comprehensive and mutually reinforcing strategies.
“A society cannot function well if its environment is unliveable. And the environment can only be protected in a democratic, solidarity-based and sustainable society.”
The events took place in Budapest from early September to mid-December 2024 with international experts, civil-society professionals and EU officials. Each event produced recommendations for EU leaders and national governments.
Contact
Bálint Farkas, Communications Coordinator,
Civilisation Coalition
civilizacio.kommunikacio@gmail.com
· +36 70 408 8280
Tibor Horányi, Great Lakes and Wetlands
Association
nagytavak@gmail.com · +36 30
599 9923