The Chairman of the EU Military Committee (EUMC), General Robert Brieger, held a discussion in Hungary a few days ago. At the press conference of the Hungarian Ministry of Defence in Budapest, it was stated that this visit can be seen as the opening of the military program of the Hungarian EU Council Presidency – from July to December 2024.
Hungarian General Gábor Böröndi, Chief of the General Staff of the Hungarian Armed Forces, presented the military priorities of the Hungarian EU Council Presidency at this meeting. He said that the EU Strategic Compass program must be supported in the areas of crisis management, military capabilities and the development of the defence industry. Hungary continues to regard the situation in the Western Balkans as a priority, he added. Hungary supports the informal document signed by Austria, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, which aims to bring the Western Balkans “more into the focus of the European Union”, including the possible use of the EU’s rapid reaction capability. The Chief of Staff also described the development of European rapid reaction forces as important and promised that Hungary would participate in the creation of the first EU battlegroup, which is to be established by 2025 on the basis of a new concept.
General Robert Brieger, officer of the Federal Army and since Chairman of the EUMC since May 2022explained that the aim of his visit to Hungary was to strengthen cooperation and discuss the most important issues of the Common Security and Defense Policy. “The current situation in Ukraine and the Red Sea region requires face-to-face meetings, during which I had the opportunity to discuss current and urgent geopolitical security and defense priorities within the EU framework. I took the opportunity to reiterate the gratitude of the EU institutions for Hungary’s outstanding participation in EU operations,” he said. Brieger concluded by stating that the EU’s military objective for the next ten years is to improve its capabilities in order to act as a credible security provider with sustainable elements and renewed ambition for the greater benefit of Member States and their regional partners.
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