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Progress in EU Enlargement During the Hungarian Presidency
The Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union has taken another major step forward for EU enlargement. On Tuesday, the ministers for European affairs of the member states meeting in Brussels approved a letter addressed to Serbia to op
The Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union has taken another major step forward for EU enlargement. On Tuesday, the ministers for European affairs of the member states meeting in Brussels approved a letter addressed to Serbia to open the third chapter of EU accession negotiations.
In the letter, the Council invited Serbia to submit its negotiating position on taxation (chapter 16) and on social policy and employment (chapter 19). Following the decision, Bálint Ódor, Head of Hungary’s Permanent Representation to the EU, signed the letter on behalf of the Council and sent it to the Serbian Head of Mission to the EU. These chapters are part of the accession negotiation chapters on competitiveness and inclusive growth, the Hungarian Presidency said in a statement.
In a post on X,
Bálint Ódor described the decision as a significant step that will give impetus to Serbia’s accession negotiations and the enlargement process, one of the Presidency’s main priorities.
On behalf of the @EUCouncil, I’ve signed the letter inviting Serbia to submit their negotiation positions for Chapters 16 & 19 under Cluster 3: Competitiveness & Inclusive Growth. A major step that boosts Serbia’s accession talks & the enlargement process— a key @HU24EU priority. pic.twitter.com/8u47JfiXHt
— Ódor Bálint (@odor_balint) December 17, 2024
On the same day, another country took a big step forward in the EU accession process.
On Tuesday, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced the opening of the second group of chapters on accession with Albania.
The politician called this milestone a great success not only for the Western Balkan country but also for the Hungarian Presidency.
Speaking at a press conference following the EU-Albania intergovernmental conference, the minister said the enlargement of the Western Balkans was particularly important for Hungary “because the importance of stability, peace and development in the Western Balkans is clear.”
One of the key priorities of the Hungarian EU Presidency has been enlargement policy and the need to focus attention on enlargement in the Western Balkans, so that the countries of the region can take a step towards the accession, EU Affairs Minister János Bóka said in Brussels on Tuesday. He added that
the Hungarian Presidency had successfully fulfilled this task.
Today at #GAC ministers adopted conclusions on #enlargement, underscoring the importance of maintaining this merit-based approach and reaffirming the EU’s dedication to the #WesternBalkans and other candidate countries on their path to integration.
️ We have prepared the… pic.twitter.com/69hFQyIhel
— Bóka János (@JanosBoka_HU) December 17, 2024
Speaking at a joint press conference with EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos after the General Affairs Council, János Bóka said that the EU had achieved a breakthrough in the field of enlargement during the Hungarian Presidency. He recalled that during the six-month term, two intergovernmental conferences were held with Albania, where two clusters were opened, and an intergovernmental conference was held with Montenegro, where accession chapters were closed.
He also described as a great success the progress made in Serbia’s EU integration process after three years.
This opens up the possibility of holding an intergovernmental conference with Serbia in the first months of 2025, where a new cluster can be opened,”
the minister said.
He stressed that these processes would be crowned by the EU-Western Balkans summit to be held in Brussels on Wednesday, which, he said, would provide an opportunity for EU leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the European integration of the Western Balkans, “which is also in Hungary’s strategic interest.”
Via MTI, Featured image: X/Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2024
The post Progress in EU Enlargement During the Hungarian Presidency appeared first on Hungary Today.
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