Bence Bauer: Our organisation campaigned for a united Europe since 1964, just after the Berlin wall was erected.

What do the European Democrat Students exactly do? How many member organisations does it have and what are the goals of this Brussels based umbrella-organisation?

The European Democrat Students is not only a student, but also a youth organisation, the youth organisation of the European People´s Party. We have been founded in 1961, so we are already going to celebrate our 50^th anniversary in 2011. EDS has been campaigning for a united Europe as soon as 1964 just after the wall in Berlin was built. From every country we have mostly one member organisation actively involved in higher education or youth politics. At the council meetings all members have one vote, irrespectively of its size or activity. A Moldavian has the same rights as a German; French does not get more votes, than a Lithuanian. Our borders go beyond the borders of the European Union, so have many full members from eastern-European countries like Georgia, Belarus, Moldova or Ukraine.

Is EDS present only in Brussels on the EU level or is it visible also on the member states level?

We work on two different levels, but we try to keep everything an even balance. We kick of our campaigns in Brussels, where we have direct contact to all the decision makers. Among the speakers at our before mentioned Winter University there will be such high profile politicians like Barroso, Buzek, Pöttering or van Rompuy. Apart from that our campaigns go through our member organisations in their respective countries on national level and language. Our campaign last year commemorating the 20^th anniversary of the fall of communism was conducted in 30 different languages.

How big is the bureau helping the chairman?

The Secretary General lives and works in Brussels, she is taking care of the administrative affairs of the organisation. As chairman, I take care of the political leadership of the organisation from decisions about content to representing the organisation on the outside. In addition to this there are 8 political vice-chairs, where all of them have a specific area of responsibility. This division of duties started with my chairmanship and I believe that through this move the work of the bureau has professionalised and planned itself.

You are the head of the international cabinet of FIDESZ IT. Was this the avenue you got in touch with EDS?

My case is unique, since it was the total opposite for me. I studied in Bonn and got to know EDS there through the local student organisation. In 2006, when I moved back home to Hungary, the EDS bureau has asked me to find a new organisation from Hungary. At this time I became involved with FIDESZ IT, where I came across a functioning international cabinet and willingness to accept me. FIDESZ IT was created in 2005. Since its beginnings the organisation put a lot of focus on international relations; thus we were able to build on the already existing fundaments and strengthen the international presence of our organisation across Europe.

How large is the base of FIDESZ IT?

 Since the statuettes of the party say that anyone below the age of 30 is automatically a member of FIDESZ IT, the members account for about 8 000 nation-wide. Of course not everyone is active, however, today we can say that each region and the large majority of electoral districts has its groups formed and ready to support the organisation with their campaigning and skills.

From spring to autumn, there are campaigns following each other in Hungary. What role does FIDESZ IT play in the campaigns or in the expectable coming FIDESZ government?

We help the campaign with all our strength. We can provide the candidates with groups of 10-20 people who will campaign in their electoral district. What happens afterwards is not on us to decide. It is certain that the eight years of this government and the hole it has dug will be hard to will and this holds for international politics. No extreme political party could have damaged Hungary more by getting into the parliament than the current government. This government and its appalling performance, incompetence and unbelievable claims undermined not only the state of economic affairs, but also the international credibility of the country. The youthful, positive and healthy approach to Europe will be seen completely different light. The country has the skills and abilities to get to its place in the region.

In 2009, Hungary turned its 5^th year anniversary in the EU. Since then the Hungarian representation is guaranteed on all levels, be it the Council, the Commission or the European Parliament. How do you evaluate Hungary’s EU performance so far?

There are only a few positive tangible results. The Polish are able to represent their interest much better. Sometimes they are looked at with doubt, but then we need to learn that we should not accept everything word to word and there is space for a confident performance. We need to clarify and be aware of what the Hungarian national interests are and how are we to bring about these goals through strengthening the central European cooperation. For this reason we initiated the Central European Youth Cooperation on the youth level. The Hungarian representation on the EU level is contradictory at best. The work of a Hungarian Commissioner will not be exemplified by László Kovács. The shame brought upon our nation during his Commissioner designate hearings is linked with his name and his lack of understanding the topic. On the other side the FIDESZ MEPs are the ones who are the most active MEPs in the European Parliament and they hold important positions. The fact that in the last year’s European Parliament elections the European People’s Party was strengthened by a 56.37% electoral result from one Hungary is a historical record since the establishment of direct election of the MEPs in 1979 and gives the Hungarian EPP delegation in the parliament weight.

Which is the relation of Fidesz Youth with the Hungarian MEPs?

Fidesz Youth as well as EDS With have an excellent cooperation the MEPs. József Szájer (EPP Group Vice-Chairman) was several times speaker on events of both organisations; Pál Schmitt (Vice-President of the EP) delivered a speech at the May session of CEYC in Budapest and was also a guest at the Fidesz Youth in autumn.

We mentioned the EP elections last year. In Hungary, apart from party preferences, the electorate cannot express its sympathy for a single candidate. Is this correct?

In every country we have different habits. Among the countries that joined the EU in 2004, in Slovakia and in the Czech Republic we have the possibility of the preferential vote. Against this argument we can say that in any party’s work distribution we have popular and less popular roles and somebody has to take also the less popular ones, therefore I do not believe that the Hungarian practise will change in near future.

The Western Balkans are a region that is also from Hungarian view important, its states are clearly aspirants of a possible EU membership. The recognition of Kosovo is not even within the EU unanimous. Can the obstacles of a Balkan enlargement be removed?

The European Union that for long time has been enlarged one by one and has been consisting of 15 member states was enlarged in the last years by additional 12 countries. We can understand the standpoint that with exception of the Croatian enlargement – this country should be for long already within the EU – the time of consolidation rather than enlargement has come.  It is the medium-term interest of Hungary that the Balkan and the countries of the Eastern Partnership can join the EU as soon as possible in case they are adequately prepared. This is not only prevalent due to the Hungarian minority in Serbia, but also the geopolitical situation of our country can become more advantageous when the „heart of Europe” does not mean any more the periphery of the EU. The situation of Kosovo needs to be clarified and the Hungarian diplomacy should support Kosovo with all its efforts as in this case the recognition of the sovereign statehood is a positive example of the protection of national minorities. In the recognition of Kosovo we need to be the closest allies of the United States in the region.

What could be a solution in the Slovak-Hungarian and in the Romanian-Hungarian relations?

The Slovak-Hungarian and the Romanian-Hungarian bilateral relations cannot be handled without the knowledge of a Central European context, history, and culture. For Hungary as well as for the Hungarian minorities in the neighbouring states it is our interest that as with the Slovaks so with the Romanians we have a balanced and - if this can have a positive reception – friendly relationship. I do believe that there is a Central European identity and this can be the base of the cooperation. But it is the constitutional obligation of the Hungarian state to protect the minorities outside its borders, especially then when fundamental rights are endangered. We need to stress out that Fidesz Youth has traditionally a very hearty relation with our Slovak partner organisation, the ODM, and it is a very good sign for the future that we think very much alike, also when it comes to the politics of the Fico-Slota government. We do hope that in near time, the official relations will be as good. We also need to strengthen the Polish-Hungarian cooperation and we need to cultivate the traditional friendship. For this we have the chance that Poland is following Hungary in the EU-presidency.

In Germany and in Austria we could witness grand coalitions. When does Hungary say good-bye to a politics that is dividing, in the meaning of a broad support and unity?

The grand coalitions in Western European countries have been always set up to avoid minority governments or when there was a lack of adequate coalition possibilities. In Hungary, this question is not topical and in the light of the expected results it is not too likely, that we will have a grand coalition. A grand coalition would be, by the way with the left that is burdened with the heritage of Communist times, totally unimaginable. I could also answer that we can come back to this question when the Hungarian left is clearly supporting the total disclosure of Communist crimes as the EPP and EDS did; latter passed several resolutions on that issue.

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