Balkans | Hungary wants to speed up Serbia’s membership in the European Union

Hungarian Foreign and Trade Minister Peter Sjärto said that the process of Serbia’s membership in the European Union is progressing very slowly and should be accelerated.

Minister Szijjarto met with the Serbian Minister of European Integration, Tanja Micevic, in the capital, Budapest, and then the two ministers held a joint press conference.

Pointing out that the European integration of the Western Balkan countries is in the interest of the whole of Europe, Sijarto said: “The integration of the Western Balkans is not only in the interest of the national security and national economy of Hungary, but in the interest of all of Europe.” He said.

Stating that the membership of Serbia in the European Union, which is the largest country in the Western Balkans region, is very important, Szijjarto stressed that the process of Serbia’s membership in the European Union is progressing very slowly and that it should be accelerated.

Szijjarto expressed that Serbia’s membership in the European Union will contribute to the European Union in terms of material, economic and energy supplies, and will interact with other member states that have slowed down Serbia’s membership in the European Union.

Turning to the economic relations between the two countries, Szijjarto said that the volume of bilateral trade between Serbia and Hungary increased by 68 percent last year to reach 6 billion euros.

Noting that Serbia plays an important role in his country’s energy security, Cigarto stated that 5 billion cubic meters of natural gas were delivered to Hungary via Serbia in 2022.

On the other hand, Tanja Micevic said that Hungary’s support for her country’s membership in the European Union is very important.

Referring to his condemnation of the attack on Ukraine, Mesievich said that his country continues to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

Mesievich said that they have taken various steps in energy supply and that his country has taken the necessary steps to deliver Azerbaijan’s electricity to Europe.

Noting that they have taken some steps regarding the rule of law, Micevic added that they are continuing reforms to reach the goal of EU membership.