Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said in Budapest on Monday that although the European Union is applying "intense pressure" to have Ukraine join the bloc before the Western Balkans countries, such a scenario is "out of the question".
At a joint press conference with North Macedonian counterpart Timcho Mucunski, Minister Szijjártó said one of the reasons why Ukraine should not join before the Western Balkans countries was that whereas the latter countries’ accession would be beneficial for the EU, Ukraine’s membership would "destroy the bloc’s functioning from an economic and security aspect".
Another reason, he added, was that "no one can think that Ukraine is in a better state [of preparedness] today than any of the Western Balkans countries."
"This is simply nonsensical, and if the Western Balkans countries are in a better state, then we don’t understand why they should be made to wait," Minister Szijjártó said, according to a ministry statement. "So the Hungarian people will express their view on this issue in a referendum."
Meanwhile, he said the case of North Macedonia was a prime example of the "double standards applied by the European Union", arguing that though it has been an EU candidate country for twenty years, certain EU governments were "constantly blocking the progress of the integration process".
"And interestingly enough, no one ever accuses these countries of undermining European unity or of serving Russian interests," he said. "Yet we Hungarians are under constant attack when we stick up for the rights of Transcarpathian Hungarians and make it clear that until their previously acquired rights are restored, we see no way for Ukraine to make progress in its EU accession talks."
On another subject, Minister Szijjártó expressed his solidarity over the recent nightclub fire in the North Macedonian town of Kocani that killed dozens of young people, emphasising that "friendship must be strengthened in times of trouble."
"I’d like to underline once again that Hungary stands by North Macedonia as it ... processes this terrible tragedy," the minister said. He noted that six of those injured in the fire are being treated in Hungary, adding that the government was prepared to provide more help if needed. "We’ve expressed our sympathies to the families affected by the tragedy and we, of course, pray that those still being treated make a full recovery."
Meanwhile, Minister Szijjártó noted that Hungary and North Macedonia recently held a bilateral government summit where they agreed that Hungarian firms would take part in North Macedonian infrastructure development programmes. The two foreign ministries are preparing the related intergovernmental agreement "that offers significant opportunities for Hungarian businesses", he added.