Hungary took over the presidency of the Council of the European Union for six months from 1st July. The Euractiv portal obtained Hungarian plans for energy, transport and the environment for their presidency. The Hungarians inherited the ongoing legislative processes from the Belgian presidency, but the Hungarian presidency would be calmer in terms of lawmaking. Their presidency coincided with the end of the EU's five-year cycle. The new European Commission would take office in the autumn and need time to identify priorities and plan work.