Journey along the Danube On 1 and 2 December 2025, the Commissioner will travel to Hungary and Slovakia for the 13th leg of the Tour d’Europe. The visit will focus on continuing the dialogue with EU Member States on the next Multiannual Financial Framework. Page contents Page contents Hungary------------------ STOP 1: EU’s commitment to transparency and integrity (1 December) The Commissioner will start his visit in Budapest with a keynote speech at the Hungarian Integrity Authority’s conference “Converging Roads of Integrity 2025”. The Authority is an autonomous body responsible for making sure that EU funds in Hungary are used in line with the rules and that taxpayers’ money is well spent. It plays a key role in addressing fraud, corruption, conflicts of interest, and other irregularities, and its mandate covers all projects that have received EU support. Commissioner Serafin’s participation is particularly relevant as he serves as the European Commissioner for Anti-Fraud, highlighting the importance of integrity, transparency, and sound financial management in the use of EU funds. Following the conference, he will have a bilateral meeting with Mr Ferenc Pál Biró, President of the Authority.Main page - Integritás Hatóság STOP 2: Honouring a hero and the shared values that unite us (1 December) Statue of Józef Bem in Budapest© wallyg, 2022The Commissioner will then pay tribute by laying flowers at the statue of Józef Bem, a Polish, Hungarian, and Turkish general and national hero who played a key role in the 1848-1849 Hungarian Revolution, fighting for independence and freedom. Bem is celebrated for his courage, commitment to civic responsibility, and solidarity. The statue is also a symbol of the long-standing Polish-Hungarian friendship. This gesture will symbolically honour shared European history and values, and underline the Commission’s commitment to freedom, democracy and equality. STOP 3: Shaping the future of the EU budget together (1 December) Commissioner Serafin will meet Hungarian Minister for European Union Affairs János Bóka. They will discuss key aspects of the MFF proposal, and Hungary’s perspectives and priorities related to the next EU’s long-term budget. Slovakia------------------ STOP 4: Sharing Perspectives and Shaping Tomorrow Together (2 December) The next day, Piotr Serafin will travel to Slovakia. In Bratislava, the Commissioner will meet with Prime Minister Robert Fico to discuss the Commission’s MFF proposal. STOP 5: Where Heritage Meets Environmental Responsibility (2 December) Ekocentrum ČunovoThe Commissioner will conclude his visit with a stop at the EU-funded project “Ekocentrum Čunovo” a renovated historic manor transformed into an environmental education and eco-tourism centre. Supported by five million euros from Cohesion policy, the project promotes biodiversity awareness, sustainable tourism, heritage preservation, and community engagement in the Danube floodplain region. It illustrates key European Union priorities from the European Green Deal and climate adaptation to cohesion policy cross-border cooperation and cultural heritage protection.Together with Mr Juraj Droba, Chairman of the Bratislava Self-governing Region, the Commissioner will tour the centre and hold a working lunch to discuss regional priorities and learn from local experience.
On 1 and 2 December 2025, the Commissioner will travel to Hungary and Slovakia for the 13th leg of the Tour d’Europe. The visit will focus on continuing the dialogue with EU Member States on the next Multiannual Financial Framework.
The Commissioner will start his visit in Budapest with a keynote speech at the Hungarian Integrity Authority’s conference “Converging Roads of Integrity 2025”. The Authority is an autonomous body responsible for making sure that EU funds in Hungary are used in line with the rules and that taxpayers’ money is well spent. It plays a key role in addressing fraud, corruption, conflicts of interest, and other irregularities, and its mandate covers all projects that have received EU support. Commissioner Serafin’s participation is particularly relevant as he serves as the European Commissioner for Anti-Fraud, highlighting the importance of integrity, transparency, and sound financial management in the use of EU funds. Following the conference, he will have a bilateral meeting with Mr Ferenc Pál Biró, President of the Authority.Main page - Integritás Hatóság
Statue of Józef Bem in Budapest© wallyg, 2022The Commissioner will then pay tribute by laying flowers at the statue of Józef Bem, a Polish, Hungarian, and Turkish general and national hero who played a key role in the 1848-1849 Hungarian Revolution, fighting for independence and freedom. Bem is celebrated for his courage, commitment to civic responsibility, and solidarity. The statue is also a symbol of the long-standing Polish-Hungarian friendship. This gesture will symbolically honour shared European history and values, and underline the Commission’s commitment to freedom, democracy and equality.
Commissioner Serafin will meet Hungarian Minister for European Union Affairs János Bóka. They will discuss key aspects of the MFF proposal, and Hungary’s perspectives and priorities related to the next EU’s long-term budget.
The next day, Piotr Serafin will travel to Slovakia. In Bratislava, the Commissioner will meet with Prime Minister Robert Fico to discuss the Commission’s MFF proposal.
Ekocentrum ČunovoThe Commissioner will conclude his visit with a stop at the EU-funded project “Ekocentrum Čunovo” a renovated historic manor transformed into an environmental education and eco-tourism centre. Supported by five million euros from Cohesion policy, the project promotes biodiversity awareness, sustainable tourism, heritage preservation, and community engagement in the Danube floodplain region. It illustrates key European Union priorities from the European Green Deal and climate adaptation to cohesion policy cross-border cooperation and cultural heritage protection.Together with Mr Juraj Droba, Chairman of the Bratislava Self-governing Region, the Commissioner will tour the centre and hold a working lunch to discuss regional priorities and learn from local experience.
