N

PM Orbán: V4 has more clout in new European Commission

The Prime Minister has said that many of the migration-related problems Europe is confronting today could have been avoided had the Western Balkan nations already entered the EU.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said the positions the V4 states had been given in the new European Commission headed by Ursula von der Leyen have improved the significance of the region.

Speaking at a meeting of V4 and Western Balkan heads of state in Prague, the Prime Minister said the most important position for the group was that of Slovakia’s Maroš Šefčovič, who will retain his vice presidency but in a new capacity, coordinating inter-institutional relations and foresight.

PM Orbán also reaffirmed that the Hungarian commissioner for EU enlargement, László Trócsányi has the experience required for the job.

The Prime Minister said that many of the migration-related problems Europe is confronting today could have been avoided had the Western Balkan nations already entered the EU.

“If the EU had included the Balkans countries among its members, there wouldn’t be millions of migrants in Europe today,” PM Orbán said. He added that leaving those nations outside the EU has left the region between Greece and Hungary unguarded and that this empty space “must be filled”. The Prime Minister reminded that there was no migration pressure from EU member Romania, proving his idea.

In a nod to the country hosting the event and its prime minister, Andrej Babiš, PM Orbán said Hungary regarded the Czech Republic as a model, especially with the regard to unemployment, which is the lowest in the European Union.

Photo credit: kormany.hu