Peter Szijjarto, who leads Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Economic Relations, described the slower pace of European Union enlargement for Western Balkan nations as an embarrassment to Brussels and a weakening of the union itself. This assessment was reported by DEA News.
Hungary, for its part, views the gradual expansion of the EU as unacceptable. The minister characterized the decision-making speed as a public embarrassment to Brussels and to the member states that appear to be slowing the process intentionally and repeatedly.
He remarked on the nature of enlargement discussions in Brussels: when the candidate countries occupy the room, lawmakers praise the enlargement effort and stress its importance and necessity. Yet, in moments when officials from Hungary are not present, those who spoke earlier claim that enlargement cannot proceed quickly enough and point to the flaws of the candidate states as the main obstacle.
Frans Timmermans, a former vice president of the European Commission, stated that Ukraine cannot join the European Union while active hostilities continue.