Skopje, 13 June 2025 (MIA) - Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said Friday in Skopje that while the European Union publicly declares its support for enlargement with the Western Balkans, behind closed doors at the meetings of the 27 member states, those in favor of enlargement are a minority. If EU leaders were truly sincere in their intention to welcome the country, they wouldn’t make it wait 20 years for full-fledged membership, he said.

“Bulgaria is indeed openly obstructing your accession efforts, but you are not waiting in line for 20 years solely because of Bulgarian opposition. Don’t be upset, but I must say that the situation on this matter is much more complicated. At the moment, the EU member states that support enlargement with the Western Balkans are a minority,” Szijjártó said at a joint press conference with his Macedonian counterpart, Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski.

The Hungarian FM said during the country’s presidency of the Council of the European Union they invested efforts in accelerating the Western Balkans’ accession process but claimed they constantly faced roadblocks which, he said, were erected “by those countries that publicly support this entire process”.

“We sincerely support the Western Balkans, and we are in the minority in the EU when it comes to this. Most member states when they visit you, publicly tell you how much they support North Macedonia’s accession to the European Union. But when we, the 27 member states, remain alone behind closed doors, then the majority immediately starts talking about why the EU could not enlarge with the Western Balkans. But of course, in the future too they will continue to deny this and say nice words, but if they truly mean what they say, do you really think you would wait 20 years for enlargement,” Szijjártó said.

Szijjártó noted that the armed conflicts in and around Europe raise the need for EU enlargement with Western Balkans and Eastern Europe.

“We are convinced that EU enlargement with the Western Balkans in many way helps the EU itself as well, because it too will benefit a lot both in terms of security and the economy. That is why we are disappointed when Brussels and the Western European countries constantly lay roadblocks to enlargement with the Western Balkans. I can sincerely say that when the Western European countries speak of enlargement they are lying to you, because some of these countries in the region have been waiting to join for more than 15 years,” the Hungarian diplomat added. 

He said for Hungary it is “unacceptable” that Brussels “wants to welcome Ukraine in the EU” quickly while enlargement with “the more developed and better prepared” Western Balkan countries “is constantly being obstructed and made more difficult”.

“This is why Hungary is lending all its support to a swift EU accession of the Western Balkans. We absolutely support North Macedonia, and we are working to ensure meaningful negotiations with North Macedonia begin as soon as possible. I don’t think there is a sensible person on this planet who would think Ukraine is in a much better general state than any Western Balkan country,” Szijjártó stressed.

Asked if Hungary would support launching accession talks with Ukraine, Szijjártó claimed Ukraine joining the EU could cause serious harm and challenges for the EU.

“An accelerated EU accession of Ukraine could cause great harm and great difficulties for the EU itself. We don’t want to import war in the EU. We don’t want bad quality grain from Ukraine to flood the EU. We don’t want Hungary to be a promenade for the Ukrainian mafia, and we don’t want the money of the Hungarian citizens to be sent to Ukraine,” said the country’s foreign minister.

Szijjártó also spoke about the Hungarian minority in Ukraine and accused the country of violating European values. He reiterated that Hungary supports the EU accession of the Western Balkan countries, but not Ukraine.

“A significant Hungarian minority lives in Ukraine. Step by step, over the past decade, the Ukrainians have brutally revoked the rights of the Hungarian minority. The Hungarian minority constantly faces restrictions when it comes to the use of their native tongue; their rights in education, public administration, media, are constantly being limited... And if we really talk about European values, then the protection of national minorities is a very significant aspect in the EU and I cannot imagine a country which openly violates all these important European values becoming an EU member state. So, from our side, we say ‘yes’ to the accession of the Western Balkans, and ‘no’ to the accession of Ukraine,” said Szijjártó at the press conference during his visit to Skopje. 

Photo: MIA