Hungary helps Bosnia and Herzegovina become an EU member

Representatives of Hungary have signed a foreign policy cooperation action plan with Bosnia and Herzegovina aimed at starting early talks on the latter country’s European integration, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in Sarajevo on Friday. He also called on the European Union to cease “threatening and blackmailing” the Western Balkans to ensure a successful integration policy.

The foreign ministry quoted Szijjártó as saying at a press conference held jointly with Bosnian counterpart Elmedin Konakovic that Europe could gain “new momentum, new energies and ambition” through integrating the Western Balkans.

“The European Union has at least as great an interest in your fast accession as you have in becoming members,” Szijjártó said, adding that the upcoming Hungarian EU presidency would see it as a top priority to “significantly” accelerate the Western Balkans integration process. He also said that fast integration of the region could result in “stability and calm” in its countries. “All those slowing down the integration of the Western Balkans are working against security in the EU and the interests of the Western Balkans,” the minister added.

Launching accession talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina will be high on the agenda of the Hungarian presidency, Szijjártó said, noting that the aspirant had submitted its application to join as long as eight years ago.

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Meanwhile, Szijjártó offered training to 50 young diplomats or public administration experts at the Hungarian Diplomatic Academy. He also noted that the EUFOR ALTHEA mission had recently been taken over by a Hungarian commander, adding that the troops included 264 Hungarian soldiers.

Concerning illegal migration, Szijjártó said “Hungary has a clear stance and will firmly act against illegal migration during its presidency . we want to make it clear that Europe can only be entered in a legal way.” “We will also fight the migration quotas and will try and make Brussels not to encourage migrants to come to Europe,” he added.

On the subject of bilateral ties, Szijjártó said the two countries had built close cooperation in recent years, with bilateral trade turnover breaking a record 600 million euros.

Szijjártó to EU: ‘Stop threatening, blackmailing Western Balkans’

At the joint press conference with Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik held in Banja Luka on Friday, Szijjártó noted that a priority of Hungary’s upcoming EU presidency would be to speed up the EU integration of the Western Balkans.

He said the EU needed fresh impetus and ambitions, and the Western Balkans “can provide all this”.

The minister called on the EU to speak to the region “with a respectful voice” and take the will of the people of the region and the results of elections there seriously.

Every country, he added, had the right “to decide on its own future and destiny”.

Szijjártó said Hungary would continue to oppose any political leader elected in the Western Balkans from being placed on a sanctions list.

Also, Hungary would oppose the withdrawal of development money as this would “punish the people living here”, he added.

Meanwhile, Hungary continues to support a scheme for agricultural enterprises of Republika Srpska in view of “responsible neighborhood policy”.

Every farmer and agricultural enterprise in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, too, would benefit from this, he said. The relevant companies must use the money under the scheme to buy equipment manufactured in Hungary, he noted, so Hungarians would also benefit.