Dear Visitor!
I welcome you on the website of Committee on European Affairs (hereinafter: the Committee), which was established in 1992 as a first of such committee in Central and Eastern Europe. 30 years ago, I had the honour to initiate the creation of a committee dealing with European Affairs. Its role and tasks changed in parallel with the developments of the integration process. The activity of the Committee can be divided in two main periods: till the accession of Hungary to the EU on 1 May 2004 and then the EU membership period.
The Committee actively contributed in the first semester of 2011 to the results of the parliamentary dimension of the Hungarian EU Presidency by organizing and hosting the Conferences of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the European Union (COSAC) both at chair and plenary levels.
Based on the authorisation of the Act XXXVI of 2012 on the National Assembly, the Committee is vested with decision-making power in certain procedures. In the framework of the scrutiny procedure the standpoint with regard to the negotiation position represented by the Government in EU institutions is scrutinized and elaborated by the Committee on behalf of the Hungarian National Assembly.
The role of the national Parliaments in EU affairs was strengthened by the Treaty of Lisbon. New opportunities were established, in particular concerning the examination of EU draft legislative acts from the viewpoint of the application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. On the initiative of the Committee, so far seven reasoned opinions concerning eleven draft legislative acts have been adopted by the plenary. Political dialogue with the European Commission have also become a regular practice.
I am convinced that it is indispensable to strengthen the legitimacy of the decisions in the European politics and this entails a central role for national Parliaments. It is still a question what future Europe will have. The Committee is committed to the improvement of the EU policy-making and to the representation of the national interests. For this reason it is essential to carry out an active parliamentary diplomacy and the strong cooperation with the Visegrád countries.
Our website provides detailed information on the history, competence and activity of the Committee on European Affairs. Enjoy your search on our pages!
Dr. Richárd Hörcsik
Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs