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Tuesday 4 January 2011

Greenpeace marks start of Hungary's EU presidency

2011-01-04 01:23:11 GMT2011-01-04 09:23:11 (Beijing Time) Xinhua English

Greenpeace activists with eyeball-shaped helmets line up outside the Hungarian Foreign Ministry in Budapest January 3, 2011. The activists said Hungary, which took the rotating presidency of the European Union on January 1, should tackle issues such as CO2 emissions, genetically modified crops, pollution and renewable energy. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Greenpeace activists with eyeball-shaped helmets line up outside the Hungarian Foreign Ministry in Budapest January 3, 2011. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

BUDAPEST, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Environmental organization Greenpeace marked the start of Hungary's European Union presidency on Monday by submitting a list of ten demands to Minister of State for EU Affairs Eniko Gyori.

Activists with huge egyballs on their heads warned that "Europe is watching Hungary," and called for a 30-percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions, a focus on renewable energy sources, legislation to promote efficiency with energy, special treatment for radioactive waste, a deep-reaching analysis of the pros and cons of bio-fuels, and tighter controls over genetically modified crops.

Gyori, who greeted the Greenpeace activists outside the Foreign Ministry, told the gathering that the environment was a top priority for the Hungarian presidency and a strong Europe.

She said sustainable development was in everybody's interests and Hungary was open to consultations.

Greenpeace EU policy advisor Marta Vetier urged the government to take all possible measures to promote sustainability, and offered the organization's assistance in achieving green goals during the Hungarian EU presidency.

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