Hungarian foreign minister: EU needs the Western Balkans more than the other way round
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The European Union could suffer a setback similar to losing the United Kingdom unless it changes “its current arrogant attitude” regarding the EU integration of Western Balkan countries, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Monday.
Szijjártó told the press during a break in a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels that Russia’s war with Ukraine should make it ever clearer that the EU needs the Western Balkans more than the other way round.
The EU integration of the Western Balkans is a vested interest for Hungary and a matter of national security, he said, adding that Hungary had always considered the southern part of central Europe as naturally belonging to the EU.
“Societies in the Western Balkans today are likely to prefer European integration to other directions, but we don’t know if this will remain the case tomorrow,” Szijjártó said.
“Serbia must, as soon as possible, be declared a key country” for maintaining stability, peace, and development in the region, Szijjarto said, adding that the country was “mature enough” to be integrated.
Serbia has made itself a long shot, with resident Vucic just now opting for a three year “extremely favorable” natural gas deal with Russia.
Another country more than happy to trade its values for cheap gas. Back to the good old days – good luck with that!