President Katalin Novák met Montenegrin counterpart Milo Đukanović in her office in Sándor Palace on Thursday. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán also held talks in his office with Đukanović, and they discussed the economic and energy crisis caused by the Russia-Ukraine war, Montenegro’s accession process to the European Union, and the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans.
The president's office said in a statement that the meeting focused on cooperation between the two countries, challenges of the recent period, the war in Ukraine, the situation in Kosovo and in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the European Union integration of the Western Balkans. Hungary’s position is that challenges of the recent period increasingly revealed that problems experienced in Europe can only be handled with the involvement and urgent integration of the Western Balkans, the statement said. The stability of the Western Balkans is an important precondition for European security, it added. Novák assured the Montenegrin president that Hungary continues to be dedicated to the urgent EU accession of Montenegro and the region.
Đukanović expressed appreciation of Hungary’s family policy measures and the country’s dedication to bilateral cooperation in economy, tourism, education and science, as well as the integration of the Western Balkans.
The sides also discussed the increasing pressure of migration on the southern route, and they were in agreement that illegal migration must be stopped, the statement said. Novák said that Hungary had been making great efforts since 2015 to protect EU borders from illegal migration.
Đukanović expressed appreciation of Hungary’s family policy measures and the country’s dedication to bilateral cooperation in economy, tourism, education and science, as well as the integration of the Western Balkans.
The sides also discussed the increasing pressure of migration on the southern route, and they were in agreement that illegal migration must be stopped, the statement said. Novák said that Hungary had been making great efforts since 2015 to protect EU borders from illegal migration.