Hungary’s Minister for European Affairs, János Bóka, outlined the goals of Hungary’s EU presidency, emphasizing that enlargement remains one of the Union’s most successful policies. He stressed that a merit-based approach would continue to guide the process.
EU Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, revealed that the European Commission is set to release a comprehensive enlargement package in the coming weeks, evaluating candidate countries’ progress and recommending reform steps. While Western Balkans countries remain the focus, several member states, including France and Slovakia, pushed for expanding the process to include Ukraine and Moldova as well.
Though Hungary’s presidency priorities were well-received, some member states voiced concerns that the agenda lacked sufficient emphasis on Ukraine, especially in light of the ongoing conflict in the region. Slovenia, meanwhile, praised Hungary’s plan to organize an EU-Western Balkans summit, further bolstering dialogue and cooperation in the region.
