Opening the press conference, PM Orbán welcomed PM Mickoski, emphasizing that the meeting came at a critical geopolitical moment. "For three years, we have lived in the shadow of war, but now we have the best chance for peace," he stated. He welcomed the shift in U.S. policy toward negotiations with Russia, arguing that this reveals a widening strategic divide between Washington and Brussels.
"Some want peace, and some want war," he said. Hungary remains committed to diplomacy, in contrast to EU states pushing for continued escalation. "Hungary believes prolonging the war is dangerous, a mistake, and must be stopped," he declared. He also noted that Hungary and North Macedonia had aligned at the UN in backing a U.S.-led peace initiative.
The slow progress of North Macedonia’s EU accession was a key topic. PM Orbán strongly criticized Brussels, calling its inaction unjust and harmful to European competitiveness. "Hungary remains a committed supporter of North Macedonia’s EU integration," he declared. "It is a disgrace how slowly this process is moving, and the responsibility for this failure does not lie with North Macedonia, but with us, the EU member states."
He emphasized that enlargement is Europe’s best tool for economic growth, as past expansions had strengthened the bloc.
PM Mickoski expressed frustration, stating that his country has waited over 20 years with little progress. "This has always been our strategic goal and will remain so in the future. But after all that the citizens of North Macedonia have sacrificed for this, we are still in the same place we were 20 years ago," he said. He also criticized Brussels for allowing bilateral political disputes to stall the process, warning that this damages both North Macedonia and EU credibility.
PM Orbán condemned the EU’s preferential treatment of Ukraine, arguing that while Ukraine’s membership is fast-tracked, long-standing candidate countries in the Balkans are sidelined. "The European Union owes its greatest moral debt to North Macedonia today," he said.
Security and border protection were also priorities, with PM Orbán praising North Macedonia’s role in defending Europe’s external borders. "The better North Macedonia defends its borders, the fewer illegal migrants attempt to reach Hungary," he said. Reaffirming Hungary’s rejection of the EU migration pact, he stated, "We will never accept it," despite Brussels' penalties.
Economic ties have grown significantly, with PM Orbán noting that trade between the two countries has increased sevenfold since 2010. He emphasized that North Macedonia, Hungary, and Serbia form a natural economic region, though North Macedonia’s exclusion from the EU limits full integration. PM Mickoski, for his part, thanked Hungary for its financial support, which has helped modernize public institutions and infrastructure.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening Hungary-North Macedonia ties. PM Orbán stressed Hungary’s support is strategic, not just symbolic. "This does not replace full integration, but it creates a special Hungary-North Macedonia relationship that can help accelerate EU accession," he stated.
With shared priorities in EU integration, regional security, and economic growth, Hungary and North Macedonia continue to strengthen their partnership, setting the stage for deeper cooperation in the years ahead.