Based on its activity as a Member State of the European Union, Hungary is considered to be a country that stands up for the common European values, supports the European development based on these values and aims, as well as a country that is interested in the accomplishment of the European Single Market and is also ready for constructive debates on the future of the common aims, policies and budget.

Hungary’s mission is to represent, the most effective way, the interests of its national economy and the global competitiveness of the European Union at every level of the EU’s decision making process. EU affairs have a particularly important role in the formation of the Hungarian economic policy, as about the two-third of the Hungarian export is directed to the EU and 70% of our import originates from the Member States.

In relation to the European Union’s Lisbon Strategy for 2000-2010 Hungary pays special attention in its EU relations to the energy policy, quality legislation, research and innovation, as well as to the stimulation of the European labour markets’ flexibility, and also to the development of human resources. Hungary implements this strategy through its national Lisbon action programme and the New Hungary Plan for Development. Hungary’s enhanced objective is to improve the entrepreneurial environment and also to promote economic growth and the expansion of employment.

The Ministry for National Development and Economy co-operates in numerous forms with other EU countries and the EU institutions. The Permanent Representation of Hungary to the European Union continuously attends to the affairs connected to the enforcement of national interests, has contacts with the Hungarian governmental bodies and contributes to the formation of the Hungarian Europe-policy. Colleagues of the Ministry, with their direct participation at EU forums and in co-operation with the attachés of the Permanent Representation and the members of the European Parliament, also wish to enforce the initiative and active directing role in the formation of common and community policies. Hungary will hold the EU presidency in the first half of 2011. To this end the preparation for the presidency of the Hungarian state administration and the attachés has already begun.