Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova’s EU membership applications to be assessed today, Orbán backs Moldova’s bid
The enlargement policy is a very important dimension of the European Union for Hungary, because instability is possible at Hungary’s external borders, in regions where peace, security and prosperity remain a challenge, said Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement. Brussels Wednesday. On Thursday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán also discussed Moldova’s European integration with his Moldovan counterpart, Natalia Gavrilita, said Bertalan Havasi, assistant secretary of state in charge of the prime minister’s press office. MTI.
In his opening speech at the conference on EU enlargement and its economic implications, organized by the Hungarian Economic Club in Brussels, Olivér Várhelyi said that Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, among others, have reacted to the Russian invasion of Ukraine by applying for EU membership.
These countries see peace, prosperity and security for themselves in the EU. Europe must show that this is the case.
he added and also underlined that “it is up to EU Member States to decide, the European Commission can support the applications, but it all depends on the political will of the Member States”. He said the question remains as to what will generate the will that will ultimately lead to enlargement.
After the conference, Várhelyi said that the European Commission will give its opinion on the membership applications of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova on Friday, making proposals to the three countries. In response to a question, he said that in order to become a candidate country and start accession negotiations, candidate countries must fully meet the Copenhagen criteria.
According to the European Commissioner, the membership applications of the three countries could give a positive impetus to the enlargement process in the Western Balkans. He said the region has been waiting for progress for a long time, with the case of North Macedonia, for example, stalled by an internal political dispute with Bulgaria, which downgrades the EU’s role in the process. He also added that the war in Ukraine had reshaped political thinking and that he hoped that some of the secondary aspects of the accession process would be put on the back burner.
As Bertalan Havasi, Assistant Secretary of State for the Prime Minister’s Press Office, put it MTI On Thursday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán discussed the war in Ukraine as well as Moldova’s European integration with Natalia Gavrilita and Havasi himself.
Besides examining the situation in Ukraine, in particular the refugee crisis (as both countries are neighbors of Ukraine), in which hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing the war are being assisted by Moldova and Hungary, Orbán welcomed the plan of the Moldovan government to grant the status of a candidate country for EU membership. Hungary will support Moldova’s integration into the EU throughout the process leading to accession, the press chief said.
He added that Natalia Gavrilita and Viktor Orbán praised the historical relations between the two countries and supported the strengthening of bilateral economic and educational cooperation.
Source: MTI
Feature Image: Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita at a press conference with Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, after the meeting of the EU-Moldova Association Council in Brussels, October 28, 2021. Photo by Stephanie Lecocq/ MTI/EPA