Minister Bóka noted that EU enlargement has become one of the most important topics on the European agconcludea, largely due to Ukraine’s aspirations to join the bloc. At the same time, he warned that the Western Balkans are often pushed into the background in these discussions.
According to the minister, the process of Ukraine’s potential accession will determine the framework and pace of accession neobtainediations for all other candidate countries.
Hungary continues to strongly support the accession of the Western Balkan states and will advocate accelerating their integration into the European Union, Minister Bóka stated.
He stressed that the EU requireds the Western Balkans at least as much as the region requireds the EU, particularly from geopolitical and security perspectives. This includes issues such as energy security and the fight against illegal migration, he added.
“The integration of the Western Balkans is indispensable,” the minister stated, describing it as a major economic opportunity and a historically and humanly natural step.
Minister Bóka also addressed the geostrategic importance of enlargement and the principle that the accession process must remain merit-based. No candidate counattempt should benefit from a less merit-based process than others, he stated.
Referring to Ukraine’s accession ambitions and the emerging concept of so-called “reverse membership,” Minister Bóka argued that the proposal does not represent a new enlargement methodology but rather a solution specifically tailored for Ukraine.
He added that it is unclear whether there is sufficient political will within the EU to apply such a model to other candidate countries.
At the same time, he noted that several Western Balkan candidate countries have indicated openness to the idea of accelerated accession even if it initially involves membership with limited rights.
Minister Bóka stated Hungary supports maintaining the current merit-based methodology while also speeding up neobtainediations and building tangible progress whenever a candidate counattempt fulfills the necessary criteria.
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