More and more people realise every day that the loss of biodiversity and the climate crisis not only threaten the life chances of future generations but also affect people today. EU policies have a significant impact on the environment. The National Society of Conservationists – Friends of the Earth Hungary together with stakeholders and citizens have drafted a proposals’ package for the parties competing in the European parliamentary elections in Hungary. Based on this package and the Election Manifesto, a round table discussion has been organized with representatives of the Hungarian political parties. Our aim is to find common goals for citizens and NGOs to protect biodiversity and the climate and present them to the competing candidates.
Firstly, on 12 February 2024, MTVSZ invited environmental experts from different NGOs to discuss and develop a package proposal for the new European Parliament. After an introductory presentation on CERV and the Citizens’ Observatory for Green Deal Financing project, the Election Manifesto and its potential interpretation and adaptation to the Hungarian context were discussed. In the two-hour-long event, participants have drafted a proposal package for the new EU Parliament. The package listed nine intervention points for decision-makers within two main topics: biodiversity and climate.
These activities have prepared the interested groups and stakeholders for the main event which took place on 6 March 2024, an environmental policy round-table discussion focusing on the European elections. It was held in downtown Budapest, at Aranytíz Cultural Center.
All nine parties currently having representatives in the parliament were invited and seven of the parties accepted the invitation and sent their experts for the roundtable event: Jobbik – Conservatives, Our Homeland Movement, Democratic Coalition, LMP – Green Party of Hungary, Dialogue – Greens, Hungarian Socialist Party, Momentum Movement.
The parties’ representatives reflected on our nine-point proposals package and the Election Manifesto, evaluated the progress of the European Green Deal and its implementation challenges, and formulated their ideas and plans for the new European Parliament to be established in June.
At the 3-hour long meeting, a constructive, forward-looking discussion took place on the following topics:
- Rethinking our relationship to economic growth and the pressure it creates on natural resources.
- How can EU subsidies guarantee the conservation of biological diversity.
- New GMOs and lab meat.
- The reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and planning of agricultural subsidies for the next MFF.
- How to phase out fossil fuels.
- How to improve energy efficiency, what are the problems with our national energy and climate plan.
- How to create an economical, efficient and renewable energy system.
- Community energy.
- Why we need more ambitious energy transition and climate protection goals and strategies.
Altogether more than a hundred (111) people attended the two events in Budapest.
