On 14th November 2019, Olivér VÁRHELYI, from Hungary, Commissioner-designate for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, is heard by the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) of the European Parliament in Brussels to test his general competences, European commitment and specific expertise related to his portfolio. Statements by Raphaël GLUCKSMANN (S&D, FR), Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL (Greens/EFA, DE), Bert-Jan RUISSEN (ECR, NL), Olivér VÁRHELYI, Commissioner-designate, Neighbourhood and Enlargement, and Lukas MANDL (EPP, AT).

Hearing of Olivér VÁRHELYI, Commissioner-designate, Neighbourhood and Enlargement: extracts from the hearing (2/2)

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SOUNDBITE (French), Rapha&#235;l GLUCKSMANN (S&amp;D, FR), <p>Mr. Orban has talked about being available to people in a national capacity and he also referred to Mr.Erdoğan. So I will repeat the question that my colleagues asked. We need proof of your independence. Stand against that statement made by Mr. Orban. Will you also condemn illiberal democracy in Hungary?</p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Oliv&#233;r V&#193;RHELYI, Commissioner-designate, Neighbourhood and Enlargement, The proof of my independence I think is the work I have already carried out for the Commission. For four years I have been head of unit, entrusted with the task which was impossible to achieve for 40 years and I have contributed to its achievement. Despite very heavy and very difficult negotiations with a number of Member States, I have been dealing with the task in a highly independent way without any external influence. To me, that is a proof, a real, tangible, touchable proof of my capacity to act independently. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL (Greens/EFA, DE), How would you be able to step up against Russian influence in the region of the eastern neighbourhood and also in the Western Balkans when your government is actively promoting and acting on behalf of Russia's interest within the European Union. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Oliv&#233;r V&#193;RHELYI, Commissioner-designate, Neighbourhood and Enlargement, The task of a Commissioner is not to pursue any national line and I'm not going to be pursuing any national line. Be it Hungarian or any national line. My task is to pursue the European policy which is created by the Council and by this House. This is what I will do and this is going to be my job. 

SOUNDBITE (Dutch), B.J. RISSEN (ECR, NL), How can the relations between the EU and Israel be strengthened?

SOUNDBITE (English), Oliv&#233;r V&#193;RHELYI, Commissioner-designate, Neighbourhood and Enlargement, We have excellent trade relations with Israel and we have very high level of corporation on very many areas like for instance on research and development. And that is very important and we should try to increase our level of cooperation in all those areas. However we also have implications in relation to the Middle East peace process and Israel's relationship with Palestine and the occupied territories. There I continue to defend the EU line that only a two state solution can bring long lasting peace in the Middle East. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Lukas MANDL (EPP, AT), What will you do to solve this issue or to help the Western Balkan countries solve the issue of brain drain?

SOUNDBITE (English), Oliv&#233;r V&#193;RHELYI, Commissioner-designate, Neighbourhood and Enlargement, The best tool to fight brain drain is to create a local econonmy. A local economy that can engage the young professionals from these countries. But to be able to do that, we lack many things like basic infrastructure, relative development in the economy, foreign direct investment and we lack a competitive education system. This is why the Commission has already engaged in promoting and financing higher education and from this yearm vocational training as well from the region. The numbers are very critical. On average we see that 40% of the population of the Western Balkans has left and those are the young professionals who could make an economy work. We need to reattract them. 

Event date	14/11/2019
Reference:	I180579V
Format:	16:9 format
Copyright:	© European Union
copyrightYear:	2019

Hearing of Olivér VÁRHELYI, Commissioner-designate, Neighbourhood and Enlargement: extracts from the hearing (2/2)

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