“Make Europe Great Again”: Hungary unveils official slogan for its EU Presidency term

It was really only a matter of time before someone decided to use that phrase

The ‘MAGA’ (Make America Great Again) chant associated with Trump supporters has now officially been repackaged for European use as ‘MEGA’ – Make Europe Great Again. This will be the official slogan underscoring the upcoming Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which is set to begin on 1 July when the Eastern European country takes the baton from Belgium.

This certainly promises to be one of the most unusual country presidencies of the EU in recent memory.

Even before the announcement of the slogan, the Hungarian leader Viktor Orban had already made a name for himself as a staunch Trump supporter and a proponent for something called ‘illiberal democracy’, which goes against the established values of the European Union.

His wayward policies have caused millions of euros that Hungary was supposed to receive from Brussels to be frozen as a form of punishment. Nevertheless, that hasn’t stopped him from building bridges with autocratic leaders, such as Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping.

Despite the clear inspiration behind the MEGA slogan, a phrase that Orban had already used even before his visit to Donald Trump in March 2024 saying “MAGA there, MEGA here”.

Curiously enough, however, the officials charged with organizing the Hungarian Presidency of the EU, which will last until 31 December 2024, were adamant that the slogan had little to do with supporting Donald Trump – currently campaigning for re-election as US President in November.

According to Hungary’s EU Affairs Minister János Bóka, the slogan reflected a desire to show commitment to unity while also respecting each European country’s individuality as part of the bloc.

I don’t know if Donald Trump ever wanted to make Europe great again,” said Bóka, quoted by AP News.

Priorities of the Hungarian Presidency

Expectedly the announced policy priorities that the Hungarian government will promote during its six months at the helm are decidedly conservative in their orientation.

Among them, we see things like a New European Competitiveness Deal upheld as an answer to the Green Deal and seeking to re-industrialize the continent as a way of boosting its economic prowess.

There’s also an intention to find new ways to stem illegal immigration to Europe, something that has become one of the cornerstones of Orban’s policies.

Hungary is also proposing a more robust and farmer-oriented EU agricultural policy in response to the farmers’ protests that gripped the continent during the winter.

Addressing demographic challenges is another priority that has been a staple of Orban’s administration as the policy in Hungary to boost economic growth by stimulating more births rather than importing foreign labour.

Logo based on Rubik's cube

Apart from the striking slogan, another curiosity in the Hungarian Presidency is the design of the logo which pays homage to one of the most popular Hungarian inventions in the world – the Rubik’s cube.

The three-dimensional mechanical logic game was invented in 1974 by Ernő Rubik. This year it celebrates its 50th anniversary.

The Rubik's cube is a symbol that is meant to go beyond itself. It symbolises the Hungarian nation’s ingenuity, creativity, strategic thinking and sophistication.