The Albanian Prime Minister thanked the Presidency for its role in promoting the accession process.Continue reading
On Monday, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó announced in Brussels that the conclusion of three accession chapters with Montenegro after seven and a half years was a success of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU. This is a big step towards speeding up the integration process, the politician said.
At a press conference following the EU-Montenegro intergovernmental conference, the minister said that the main objective of Hungary’s presidency was to promote enlargement. He stressed that this enlargement of the EU is particularly important for Hungary, because the importance of the stability, peace, and development of this region in the neighborhood of the Western Balkans is clear.
Historic day for Montenegro & the EU!
Today, we are proud to close three negotiation chapters at the IGC with Montenegro — the first such step in 7 years.
Enlargement has been a key priority of #HU24EU, and this milestone proves that we walk the talk. pic.twitter.com/i6oE2fLyu7
— Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2024 (@HU24EU) December 16, 2024
He recalled that the countries of the region have been waiting for membership for over fifteen years on average.
If we cannot make rapid progress in the European Union’s enlargement towards the Western Balkans, we risk jeopardizing the credibility not only of the enlargement policy itself, but of the EU as a whole,”
he warned.
He pointed out that Montenegro applied in 2008, became a candidate country in 2010, and started negotiations in 2012. He added that although the candidate countries had done well, enlargement had not progressed for a long time. However, he welcomed the EU’s decision to close three accession chapters earlier in the day, in recognition of Montenegro’s excellent performance in recent years.
“We closed the chapters on intellectual property rights, media and enterprise, and industrial policy. Just to give you an idea of how significant this is, the last time this happened was seven and a half years ago.
The last time the European Union closed a negotiating chapter with Montenegro was seven and a half years ago,”
he said.
Péter Szijjártó stressed that Montenegro brings to the European Union everything that the community needs now, i.e. new strength and momentum. He pointed out that there was no real risk in the country’s accession, because the bloc could easily handle the increase in population, and Montenegro is also a member of NATO and the euro area, making the adaptation process smooth.
Prime Minister of Montenegro Milojko Spajic thanked the Hungarian Presidency for its work to speed up the enlargement process and said that they looked forward to the future after the positive developments that have taken place.
Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Purger Tamás