On the 25th June in Luxemburg, environment ministers gave political directions on water intended for human consumption and adopted Council Conclusion on the Circular Economy Action Plan. In light of transport sector decarbonisation the Council hold a policy debate on the proposal for setting emission performance standards for new passenger cars and for new light commercial vehicles.

At the health EPSCO Council of 22 June Hungary welcomed proposal for amending the regulation on supplementary protection certificates as it introduces a manufacturing waiver for export purposes. We do hope that the discussions will bear fruit in a short time in order to achieve its benefits as soon as possible

On 21 June 2018 the EPSCO Council discussed agenda items relating to employment and social affairs. The head of the Hungarian delegation was Ms Katalin Novák Minister of State for Family and Youth Affairs.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán delivered a speech at the conference “Budapest Europe-talk”, which was held in the Hungarian capital on Saturday. In his speech he said that the European Commission’s draft for the EU’s next multiannual budget is pro-immigration and pro-migrant, and would give taxpayers’ money to migrants and NGOs. It is as if the draft had been written by George Soros himself, said the Prime Minister, who also stated that in 2019 the Commission must go, and a strong Europe needs strong nation states.

The revised European rules on the posting of workers do not cover the transport sector. To clarify this issue the European Commission published its I. Mobility Package, which aims to ensure adequate social conditions for drivers as well as a fair and well-functioning single market. It sets out requirements to pursue the occupation of road transport, on the access to the international road haulage market, hauliers’ driving and rest times, tachographs, the enforcement of social rules and special rules for the posting of drivers.