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The national flags of (L-R) Kosovo, Montenegro’s North Macedonia, Serbia, and the European Union are set up on a stage for a group photo during the Western Balkans Summit at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin, Germany, on 21 October 2022

EU Enlargement: Is Ukraine Overtaking the Western Balkans on a Bend?

The integration of the countries of the region into the EU is a decades-long process, the positive outcome of which is still to be seen. Thus, the number of Eurosceptics in the region has multiplied in recent years. As a consequence of the protracted accession negotiations, which have not even started for several Western Balkan states, some countries in the region have forged closer economic, political, and cultural ties with non-EU actors.

Exiting European Council President Charles Michel (R) welcomes Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban prior to their meeting in Brussels, Belgium on 1 July 2024.

Brussels Fears Hungarian EU Presidency’s Success, Analysis Suggests

‘The Hungarian presidency has just begun, but every opportunity is being seized to obstruct it, as it offers the Hungarian government the chance to present its vision of an alternative Europe to the entire continent,’ the Center for Fundamental Rights stress in their analysis. They also note that the Hungarian PM’s visit to Kyiv took the international press by surprise, as the liberal media has consistently and falsely portrayed Hungary’s stance as pro-Russian from the start, a claim that Viktor Orbán has now clearly disproved.

What the Hungarian EU Presidency Can Mean for the West Balkans

An analytical piece by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network examines the ways Hungary can advance the EU accession of Western Balkan countries while also pointing out possible obstacles to the process as well as the reasons why the Orbán administration has decided to make the issue one of its top priorities.

The ‘Coalition of Lies and Deceit’ Has Prevailed After All — Ursula von der Leyen Nominated for a Second Term as Head of the European Commission

After late-night talks, EU leaders have decided on the top jobs of the EU, with Ursula von der Leyen preparing for a second term as President of the European Commission, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas as the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and former Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa as President of the European Council. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán criticized the pact between the EPP, S&D, and Renew, which disregards the will of the voters, calling it a ‘coalition of lies and deceit’.

Ágnes Hornung, Secretary of State, Family Policy, Hungary

‘Hungary continues to be an honest broker of family policy during the EU Presidency’ — An Interview with State Secretary Ágnes Hornung

‘Family policy will remain of utmost importance to us, as part of our overarching priority of demography during our presidency. It is clear that all of our societies are being reshaped by the challenges of demographic change. The Hungarian Presidency intends to examine demography from the perspective of competitiveness in a holistic way by including it in the agenda of almost all council formations,’ State Secretary responsible for families at the Ministry of Culture and Innovation Ágnes Hornung told Hungarian Conservative in a recent interview.

Hungarian EU Presidency Is within Reach — Priorities and Challenges

Hungary begins its six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 July during a period of extraordinary circumstances and challenges. During its presidency, Hungary aims to focus on seven priorities to answer the EU’s most pressing economic, security, and social issues.

Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó at the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 24 June 2024

EU to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Support Ukraine, Excludes Hungary from Decision — Szijjártó: Shameless Disregard of European Rules

The European Union will support arms shipments to Ukraine using a portion of the frozen Russian assets. The foreign ministers of the Member States decided on this issue on Monday, excluding Hungary from the decision-making process. Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó described the decision as a ‘shameless disregard of European rules’.

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