The decision of the General Affairs Council of the European Union to green light the opening of EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania is both good news for the overall security of the Union and a major Hungarian diplomatic success, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said on Tuesday.
“We Hungarians also have our fair share in this success,” Szijjártó said. “We have been lending tangible assistance to those countries for years. Also, [Hungary’s] Olivér Várhelyi is the commissioner for enlargement.”
Várhelyi also celebrated the news on social media.
“Very pleased that EU member states today reached political agreement on opening of accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia. I wholeheartedly congratulate both countries. This also sends a loud and clear message to Western Balkans: Your future is in EU,” tweeted Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi.
The European Council, consisting of the heads of state and government, will also have to approve the decision but when it will be on their agenda is currently unknown.
“Both countries are ready for accession talks. In these difficult circumstances, the Union needs a success,” Szijjártó said, adding that the accession talks with Serbia and Montenegro shouldn’t be sidelined either.
Title image: Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó speaks at a press conference in Budapest on March 24, 2020. (MTI/Mátyás Borsos)
