Hungary demands equal rights for candidate countries

Date: 24/10/02

By Martin Banks

THE president of Hungary warned this week that candidate countries must enjoy the same rights as member states when they join the EU in 2004. Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday, Ferenc Mádl told members that the unification of Europe should represent more than just a 'political slogan'. Mádl, elected for a five-year term in June 2000, said: 'We believe that unity must be reflected in the conditions of the accession. It is very important for us to join the EU, but it is also important to do so under fair conditions.

'To be specific, no policy can prevail for long if it differentiates between the old and new members, for example, in agriculture, in direct payments and in the allocation of financial resources.'

His comments come against the background of calls for a radical reform of the €45 billion Common Agricultural Policy. Under proposals being considered, candidate countries such as Hungary would receive the same level of direct aid as member states from 2011, not 2013 as originally envisaged.

The plans have been attacked by some member states, such as France and Spain, who fear it will be bad for their farmers.

But Mádl, an ex-lawyer and culture minister, said that while accession enjoyed the support of up to 80 of Hungarians, this could be threatened unless they became citizens of the EU on the 'basis of equality'.

'We must create the appropriate conditions under which Hungarian citizens can feel the advantages of membership from the very first moment on and will see a better and better chance to catch up,' he added.

Mádl, who was invited to address the full parliamentary session to mark the anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian uprising, also spoke of the 'problem' concerning the number of MEPs his country will be allocated once it has joined the EU.

'Based on its population, Hungary is entitled not to 20 MEPs [as stated in the Nice Treaty] but to 22 seats in the European Parliament after accession. Otherwise, the principle of proportional representation would be infringed.

'Equality means that everyone must be considered as a member without discrimination.'

Turning to the long-standing Romany issue in Hungary, Mádl said it was his country's 'special responsibility' to promote their integration into Hungarian society.

'This is a job of historical magnitude. In the past few years, Hungarian governments have been taking important steps towards the improvement of the institutional, financial and social conditions for the Roma.

'But we know we have to do even more. We need government action and a wide range of social effort on a permanent basis.'

Mádl, who was given a standing ovation at the end of his speech, said this was a European, not simply a Hungarian, problem. 'We do not want to shrug off responsibility but we count on European experience and support.'

The president of Hungary, Ferenc Mádl, warned the European Parliament on 22 October 2002 that candidate countries must enjoy the same rights as Member States when they join the EU in 2004.