Enlargement in the Western Balkans brings great benefits to Hungary and Europe 

The European Parliament adopted today in plenary a decision establishing the Western Balkans Reform and Growth Facility. Fidesz MEP Andor Deli from Vojvodina, stressed that it is important that the European Parliament, in the last plenary session of its current mandate, confirms the Western Balkans Reform and Growth Facility, which can help not only to accelerate accession but also to restore the EU’s shattered credibility with a package of around 6 billion euros. According to MEP Kinga Gál, President of the Fidesz Delegation to the European Parliament, the instrument is also crucial because it can make a decisive contribution to the accession of the countries of the region, deepening border protection, energy and economic cooperation, which could also bring significant benefits to Hungary.

“The European Union has long been treating Serbia and the Western Balkans poorly, and the citizens of the candidate countries have lost confidence in EU accession. This new financial instrument could send a very important and encouraging signal to the region. At the same time, however, the mobilisation of financial assistance must be subject to realistic and objective conditions and must not become an instrument of political pressure from Brussels. Such an attitude could alienate and discourage the Balkan candidates, which the EU cannot afford in this dangerous geopolitical situation”, MEP Deli said regarding the vote.  

“Hungary is committed to the accession of the Western Balkans and the economic catch-up of the region. This is a historic responsibility of the European Union, and the integration of the region is no longer just a question of credibility. Without the accession of the countries of the region, the EU will not be able to compete globally, nor will it be able to guarantee the stability of the Western Balkans, which is one of the most important guarantees of peace in Europe”, MEP Kinga Gál stressed.

“The countries of the Western Balkans are located in the heart of Europe; the region is a transit hub and migratory pressure is increasing every year. It is unacceptable that the EU’s border protection in the region is threatened by criminal gangs of armed men and people smugglers. The Hungarian government has long insisted that the protection of the Union’s external borders is a priority that we cannot afford to lose, even vis-à-vis Brussels”, said the Fidesz MEP.