The integration of the Western Balkans is in the EU’s clear security and economic interest

The European Parliament voted today on the annual report for Bosnia and Herzegovina. MEP Kinga Gál, president of the Fidesz Delegation in the European Parliament warned in in her plenary speech: “The EU could lose the countries of the Western Balkans if it does not take concrete steps to speed up their accession to the EU, even though the Union has a clear security and economic interest in integrating the Western Balkans.” In his speech MEP Deli Andor, a Fidesz MEP from Vojvodina emphasized that the future of the EU is inseparable from its immediate neighbours, especially in the Western Balkans. Therefore, the candidate countries must be given a place at the Conference on the Future of Europe so that the citizens of the region can also have their say on what kind of Europe they want to live in.

MEP Gál highlighted: “If the Union does not act soon, it will question its own credibility and could easily lose the region’s confidence in the EU, giving free way to increase the influence of other countries. Therefore, a positive political message should be sent to Bosnia and Herzegovina as soon as possible by granting candidate status.”

“The resilience of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the migration crisis, which poses a serious challenge to them, is commendable. It is important that illegal migration is stopped before the EU borders, and for that, all assistance must be given to Bosnia and Herzegovina, as Hungary is doing,” MEP Kinga Gál concluded.

MEP Deli Andor emphasized that the future of Europe is not just about the current EU Member States, but also candidate countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia or Montenegro. He added that the EU could not give these countries certainty about the sincerity of their enlargement intentions if they are not even invited to a conference. This was also the goal of the initiative launched by Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria in the Council to involve the countries of the Western Balkans,” stressed the MEP, asking the conference leadership not to miss such an opportunity for discussions with candidate countries.