Hungary is urging for progress on EU enlargement and would also like if EU members would offer tangible prospects for countries in the Western Balkans on their paths of integration – said Minister of State responsible for EU Affairs Enikő Győri at a press briefing in Brussels, following a General Affairs Council (GAC) meeting December 11, 2012. The meeting’s main focus were the EU perspectives of Serbia, Kosovo and Montenegro. Member States’ Heads of State and Government will be meeting on Thursday and Friday.

Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy provided a detailed account of the results of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. The latest positive development is that two integrated – joint Serbian, Kosovar and EU controlled – border-crossings have opened between the two countries on Monday.

Serbia, which in principle is already an EU-candidate, is now waiting for a date to commence actual EU accession talks. In the case of Kosovo only the possibility of negotiations on an association agreement has been raised, while with Macedonia, the conflict over the use of name with Greece continues to be an obstacle for the commencement of talks.

Minister of State Győri emphasized to the journalists that Hungary wishes to see tangible progress on enlargement, which is not only considered a step forward by diplomats, but is also by the relevant states of the Western Balkans. 

The EU Summit of Thursday and Friday will discuss the banking union. In this respect Hungary considers it important that the rules to be established should not leave non-euro-zone countries in a situation less favourable than the current, and that the integrated single market along with common EU policies remain preserved – the Minister of State pointed out.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)