Balkan states owed chance to join EU, says Fidesz MEP

The European Union owes it to the Balkan countries to give them a chance to join the bloc, Fidesz MEP Balazs Hidveghi told television news channel France24 in Strasbourg on Thursday, adding that enlargement in the Balkans was also a key strategic and political opportunity and responsibility for the EU.

Commenting on French President Emmanuel Macron’s rejection of the start of accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia at a recent EU summit, Hidvéghi said the issue called for a political debate, which he said Hungary was ready for.

The MEP underlined Hungary’s support of EU enlargement, arguing that it was in the bloc’s interest to become stronger, firmer and more stable.

Concerning next May’s EU-Western Balkan summit in Zagreb, Hidvéghi expressed hope that member states would conduct a real political debate on the future of the bloc at the meeting and that enlargement in the Balkans would be put back on the agenda.

He said the presence of the Albanian minority in the region and the issue of stability were closely linked to the question of enlargement.