Hungarian Presidency to Drive EU Enlargement in Western Balkans, Montenegro Leads the Way
Hungarian Presidency of the Council of Europe to Accelerate EU Enlargement
The Hungarian foreign minister announced on Monday that the country’s presidency of the Council of Europe will play a significant role in accelerating EU enlargement, particularly by promoting the accession of Western Balkan countries.
During talks with Montenegro’s EU affairs minister Maida Gorcevic, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó revealed that four accession chapters are expected to be closed with Montenegro in December. This marks a crucial achievement, as the last time an accession chapter was closed with any country was two years ago.
Szijjártó emphasized the importance of expediting the accession process in the Western Balkans, stating that it is a matter of credibility for the European Union. He noted that these countries have been waiting for the opportunity to join the EU for an average of 15 years.
Despite previous claims that EU membership should be based on the merits of individual candidate countries, Szijjártó highlighted that the merits of Western Balkan countries have often been overlooked. He stressed that these countries can bring new impetus, freshness, and energy to the European Union.
As Hungary takes on the presidency of the Council of Europe, it aims to push for the timely and efficient integration of Western Balkan countries into the EU. With the closure of accession chapters with Montenegro on the horizon, this presidency signifies a step forward in the enlargement process.
