After the second intergovernmental conference between the European Union and Albania, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó, who chaired the meeting, emphasized that the acceleration of EU enlargement with the countries of the Western Balkans is high on the agenda of the Hungarian EU presidency, according to Magyar Nemzet.
Much attention has been focused lately on the European Union losing its competitiveness and standing on the global stage, both in terms of politics and business, and Szijjártó stressed that expansion into the Western Balkans will give the Union much-needed new energy and impetus.
“We must take urgent steps to preserve the credibility of the enlargement policy,” said Péter Szijjártó, adding that the EU needs “to speed up the expansion procedures.”
Making the case specifically for Albania, the Hungarian foreign minister said, “It is clear that Albania has performed very well in terms of the conditions that the European Union has put forward to be able to open the negotiation chapters,” he said, adding that “it is a great privilege and honor for Hungary that substantive negotiations with Albania have begun under the Hungarian presidency.”
Hungary has had a firm position that expansion into the Western Balkans will help bring the region peace, development and stability. This is why Hungary has committed itself to helping Albania on its way to becoming a member-state of the European Union, Szijjártó said.
Hungary’s Olivér Várhelyi, the EU commissioner responsible for enlargement and neighborhood policy, stated that the way is now clear for meaningful negotiations, also expressing his gratitude that the Hungarian EU presidency has made enlargement a political priority.
“Thanks to the Hungarian EU presidency, it is now unquestionable that enlargement is among the three most important priorities for the EU and its leaders,” he said, adding that “Europe cannot grow stronger without enlargement.”
Várhelyi noted that the EU accepted a financial instrument in April worth €6 billion to help integrate the Western Balkans into the EU via the faster implementation of necessary reforms. He added that “Albania has never been ashamed to do everything that the EU path requires.”
Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama said that for his country there is no other future and there is no other way but the European Union.
“There is no plan B, only belonging to the European community. This is the only option,” Rama said, also thanking the Hungarian EU presidency for advancing his country’s accession process.
