Hungarian FM Szijjártó: ‘Unacceptable’ that Brussels constantly hampering Western Balkans enlargement

It is “unacceptable” that Brussels and several western member states are “constantly hampering” European Union enlargement in the Western Balkans while wanting to fast-track the admission of Ukraine despite it being in far worse shape, Hungary’s foreign minister said in Skopje on Friday.

Szijjártó talks about EU enlargement

The ongoing armed conflicts in and around Europe present the continent with serious security and economic challenges, making EU enlargement in the Western Balkans all the more important, Péter Szijjártó said after talks with North Macedonian counterpart Timco Mucunski, according to a ministry statement.

Szijjártó said enlargement would bring significant economic and security benefits, and it was “a serious mistake on the part of Brussels and the western member states to constantly hamper the process”.

He said that while Brussels and several western EU member states publicly supported enlargement, the Western Balkan countries have been waiting for EU membership for an average of over 15 years.

Hungary, he said, considered it “unacceptable” that while Brussels was pushing to fast track Ukraine’s accession to the bloc, it was “constantly hampering the accession of the Western Balkan countries, which are far more developed, far more prepared and in much better shape”.

Whereas Ukraine’s accession would cause “serious harm and difficulties”, the accession of the Western Balkan countries “would clearly improve the European Union’s economic and security situation”, he added.

Hungary will therefore give the Western Balkan states all the support they need in order to join the EU as soon as possible, Szijjártó said. “We believe North Macedonia is absolutely prepared, and we urge the start of real and meaningful talks with it as soon as possible,” he said.