Hungary's EU presidency sets example: PM

(BUDAPEST) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Monday praised his country's presidency of the European Union, which ends this week, as giving a practical example to the rest of the bloc.

"We have understood that the (economic) crisis cannot be handled with the usual tools, new methods were needed.... Hungary did not flinch at the gigantic problems," said Orban of the six-month term of the EU presidency.

"Instead of a theory, we presented a working solution to Europe," Orban added, evaluating Budapest's performance in the Hungarian parliament.

"Hungary took the issue of economic governance to the breaking point," the premier said, in reference to Hungary's efforts to ensure the finalisation of a pact on greater economic cooperation within the EU.

The Hungarian premier mentioned the conclusion of Croatian accession talks and the adoption of the European Roma strategy as further successes of Budapest's management of the 27-member bloc's affairs.

Budapest took over the helm of the EU in January from Belgium, with a controversial media law casting a shadow over the launch of the Hungarian stewardship and prompting the European Commission to demand changes in the law.

Budapest is handing over the task of the rotating EU presidency to Poland on Friday, marking the end of term of the first EU trio -- Spain, Belgium and Hungary -- with a year-and-a-half of coordinated policies.