In the framework of the Hungarian Presidency of the Visegrád Cooperation, the Hungarian National Assembly organized the Meeting of the Committees on European Affairs of the parliaments of the Visegrád Countries in Budapest from 15-16 February 2026. The event was hosted by Zoltán Tessely, Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs of the Hungarian National Assembly. From the committee the meeting was also attended by Vice-Chair István Hollik and by committee members Hajnalka Juhász, Richárd Hörcsik and Gábor Riz.
The participants discussed two topics at the meeting. The first item on the agenda dealt with the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034, and the second item with the impact of demography on the competitiveness of EU member states. During the discussion on the Multiannual Financial Framework, János Bóka, Minister for European Union Affairs, gave an introductory presentation about the content of the MFF draft, Hungary's position on the draft, as well as the process and current status of the negotiations. He emphasized that "it is in the interest of the V4 countries that quality, not speed, should dominate the debate on the MFF", and called for joint action by the V4 countries in the negotiations in order to assert their common interests. Under the second item on the agenda, Zsófia Koncz, State Secretary for Families at the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, gave an introductory presentation on the current family support system, home creation subsidies, nursery developments, and the demographic situation in Hungary.
On behalf of the parliaments of the Visegrád Countries the following members of parliament made contributions at the meeting: Michal Stuška and Beáta Jurík, Vice-Chairs of the European Affairs Committee of the Slovak National Council; Branislav Škripek, member of the committee; Jan Schiller, Chairman of the Committee on EU Affairs of the Czech Senate; Zdeněk Nytra, member of the committee; Petr Sokol, Chair of the Committee on European Affairs of the Czech Chamber of Deputies; Denis Doksanský, Vice-Chair of the committee; Gabriel Patryk, Łukasz Osmalak and Jacek Niedźwiecki, members of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Polish Sejm; and Henryk Piotr Siedlaczek, Deputy Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Polish Senat.
At the meeting, Zoltán Tessely mentioned competitiveness problems, the slow economic growth and the demographic situation among the current challenges facing the EU. He emphasized that, based on their political convictions, the Visegrád Countries gave different responses to each of the challenges, but all countries likely agree that "in many respects, the European Union must stand on its own two feet and establish strategic autonomy." With regard to the MFF, he recalled the contributions made at the November 2025 meeting of the Committees on Agriculture of the parliaments of the Visegrád Countries in Budapest, where participants agreed that the original proposal of the European Commission was unacceptable. With regard to the V4, he emphasized the importance of cooperation in areas that connect all countries.
+ Photos (Office of the Hungarian National Assembly)