Szijjarto: It's in Europe's interest that Serbia joins the EU as soon as possible

Photo: Tanjug/Dragan Kujundzic

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary Peter Szijjarto has said that the issue of Kosovo should not be a condition for Serbia's EU integration, and promised that during the Hungarian presidency of the EU, in the second half of 2024, there would be greater progress in Serbia's path to the EU, reports Kosovo Online.

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"We are keeping our fingers crossed for the success of the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo and we believe that this situation can only be resolved through negotiations. But we do not accept the question of Kosovo as a condition for Serbia's European integration," Szijjarto said in New York.

He stated that the EU is currently, unfortunately, in a very bad state.

"We Hungarians are in favor of strengthening the EU. The question of how can the EU be strengthened offers an answer, which is enlargement. In case we can enlarge the EU, we will be stronger," Szijjarto is convinced.

In this sense, he pointsed out that Europe needs the Western Balkans to join as soon as possible.

"When it comes to the Western Balkans the key country is undoubtedly Serbia. It is Europe's interest to have Serbia among the member states as soon as possible. We cannot accept the way Brussels and some Western EU countries behave towards Serbia, we do believe that currently the EU needs the Western Balkans more than the region needs the EU membership," said Szijjarto.

That is why he hopes that already this year, progress will be made regarding the accession process of Serbia (to join the EU).

"If not, (during Hungarian presidency next year) we will take huge steps. I can promise this," Szijjarto said.

(Telegraf.rs)