Cohesion and competitiveness: Reflecting on Hungary's EU presidency

Starting on July 1, 2024, Hungary assumed the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. Among the seven key priorities, two stand out as solid foundations for discussion: strengthening cohesion and enhancing competitiveness. The panel will focus on the most significant policy area of the Hungarian presidency—cohesion—and explore how it aligns with competitiveness and the internal market. Panelists will discuss the current state of cohesion policy, its future outlook, the challenges facing the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), and the opportunities offered by directly managed EU programs to bolster cohesion. Additionally, the panel will examine regional disparities, their potential to boost competitiveness, and the prospects for convergence. The discussion will also seek to address how cohesion funds and directly managed EU funds can complement each other—rather than compete—in contributing to enhanced competitiveness.