Hungarian FM: EU must ‘end hypocrisy’ to speed up enlargement
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Many European Union countries need to “stop being hypocritical and deceiving candidate countries” in order to speed up the bloc’s enlargement, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Thursday.
At a joint press conference with Montenegrin counterpart Filip Ivanovic, Szijjártó said Hungary will do everything possible in the interest of speeding up EU enlargement during its presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of the year. The integration of the Western Balkans remains a priority of Hungarian foreign policy and will be given special attention during Hungary’s presidency, he added, according to a ministry statement.
Szijjártó said the EU was gradually becoming weaker, falling to third place in the global GDP ranking last year, adding that Brussels appeared to be closing itself off rather than engaging in cooperation.
“The European Union needs new momentum, new energy and new ambitions, which is something the Western Balkans can bring to the table,” Szijjártó said. “These countries have the energy, momentum and ambition that could be of great help to the European Union in becoming stronger again.”
He urged honesty on the issue of enlargement, lamenting that several member states were “hypocritical” in the matter. He argued that while all member states publicly supported enlargement, when it came time to make a decision they were “less enthusiastic”.
Szijjártó brought up the example of Montenegro as the country with which the EU has opened the most accession chapters. He noted that the country had applied for EU membership in 2008 and entered into accession talks in 2012, but the process has yet to be completed in 2024.
I do not think any European Union Member is likely to approve any new Member before the elephant in the room – the veto that allows one single Member to block the entire EU to move forward on anything, as our Politicians have demonstrated – is addressed.
They would be mad to do otherwise. Blackmail at every vote. Who wants that?
When Szijjarto says “Western Balkans” he really means primarily Serbia. What is Serbia up to? Opposition leader Nikola Sandulovic was taken from his home on Jan 3rd by Serbian secret police for apologizing publicly for Serbian crimes against Albanians during the Balkan Wars. He was beaten so badly in a military prison that he has been left partially paralyzed. This is what Szijjarto and Orban are clamouring to bring into the EU. Absolutely no bloody way.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/11/serbia-opposition-leader-left-paralysed-by-attack-say-family