The President of the European People’s Party (EPP), Wilfried Martens, warmly welcomed Hungary and its Prime Minister and EPP Vice President, Viktor Orbán, for the start of the Hungarian Presidency of the European Union (EU):

"I am convinced Viktor Orbán will successfully tackle the current challenges of the EU – particularly the economic crisis – and will advance EU priorities such as the implementation of the Treaty amendment, and the completion of Croatia’s accession negotiations," President Martens stated.

"As an experienced two-term EPP Vice President, Viktor Orbán has very strong European credentials and will surely give impetus to the European project during the six-month Hungarian Presidency," he added.

"After a very successful Belgian EU Presidency led by Prime Minister Yves Leterme, the EPP and its leaders will, once again, be presiding over the main EU institutions in 2011: the European Commission with José Manuel Barroso, the European Parliament with Jerzy Buzek, the European Council with Herman Van Rompuy, and the rotating EU Presidency with PM Viktor Orbán in the first half of the year and PM Donald Tusk in the second half. I look forward to welcoming them all at 2011 EPP Summit meetings," President Martens concluded.

Note to editors:
The EPP is the largest and most influential European-level political party of the centre-right, which currently includes 73 member-parties from 39 countries, the Presidents of the Commission, Council, and Parliament, 14 EU and 6 non-EU heads of state and government, 13 members of the European Commission and the largest Group in the European Parliament.

For more information:
Kostas Sasmatzoglou, Spokesman, Tel: +32-2-2854147
Javier Jiménez, Senior Press and Communication Officer, Tel. +32-475480446