Recent EU summit success for V4, Central Europe, says incoming justice minister

The recent summit of European Union leaders was a successful one for the Visegrád Group and central Europe, the incoming justice minister told a joint session of parliament’s EU affairs and justice committees on Thursday.

The summit centering on nominations for top EU posts demonstrated clearly that central Europe’s stance must be considered in European decision-making, Judit Varga, who is in charge of EU affairs, said.

She said it had become clear at the summit that “the old routine of the largest EU member states dividing up posts among themselves does not work anymore.”

Varga hailed the success of the V4 at the EU summit, saying those that formed alliances and stood up for their own interests while representing them consistently achieved their desired outcomes.

A new era has begun in Europe, Varga said, adding that the bloc now had a chance to “correct certain mistakes” in areas such as economic policy, migration and the rule of law.

She said the EU’s success lay in maintaining a community that respects nation states and cooperation based on mutual respect.

Referring to changes in the Hungarian government, she said it was logical to put judicial and EU affairs under one roof, since most EU legislation has an impact on the national legal system.