Subscribe to our social channels to get the latest news about Hungary!
Hungary supports this Balkans country’s EU accession, FM Szijjártó says
Change language:
Hungary will give Albania all the support it needs in order to successfully complete its European Union integration, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Tuesday, adding that the government will focus on advancing the EU’s enlargement during its upcoming EU presidency.
Hungary’s presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of the year will come at a time when the continent is faced with serious challenges, as the world is in “an era of dangers”, Szijjártó said at a joint press conference with is Albanian counterpart Igli Hasani, according to ministry statement.
“There’s a war on the continent, the EU’s competitiveness continues to deteriorate, and the mood in the European Union isn’t the best, either,” Szijjártó said. “That’s why some freshness, momentum and new energy would be needed.”
“It’s also clear that we can only get this freshness, new momentum and energy from somewhere outside the bloc . and that’s clearly the Western Balkans, whose countries have long been preparing to be granted EU membership,” he added.
Szijjártó said advancing EU enlargement will therefore be a priority of Hungary’s EU presidency.
“We don’t want to foster any naive illusions . but this struggle will be a tough one, because in contrast to their public positions, many member states are actually against enlargement,” Szijjártó said. He said this was evidenced by the fact that Albania had applied for membership in 2009, was granted candidate country status in 2014, but the actual accession talks had not even started yet.
Tirana has done a lot
He said Tirana had done “a lot” to prepare for EU membership, and all conditions for opening meaningful negotiations were in place.
Everything the Fidesz government does is self-serving. They are incredibly isolated in Europe and are in desperate need of other countries who will support them as “friends”. This is the reason they are going out of their way to promote EU accession of a number of Balkan countries. Nothing they do comes out of the goodness of their hearts. It’s all calculated for self-benefit.
Well. No new Members until the veto right for every single EU Member is addressed, I am guessing. Most if not all Member States will by now have gotten pretty weary of our Politicians posturing and tactical use of our veto right, leading to a big waste of time, focus and effort.