At a joint press conference with the Serbian Minister of Economy, the head of the ministry said that part of the hypocrisy in Brussels in the field of enlargement policy is the recent decision, according to which Oliver Varhelyi cannot continue his work as Commissioner responsible for the region in the new European Commission.
According to the MTI report, Peter Szijjarto highlighted that the Western Balkan countries have been waiting for EU membership for an average of fourteen and a half years, which clearly shows that the majority in society is against enlargement.
“The Western Balkans have waited too long because there is enormous hypocrisy in the EU regarding enlargement. Because everyone speaks publicly in favour of enlargement, but when 27 foreign ministers close the door in our face, the majority speaks against enlargement,” he said.
According to the minister, the reason behind Ursula von der Leyen's decision is that the Commissioner from pro-enlargement Hungary should not be given the enlargement portfolio. This motive shows that he is also a member, and is part of the hypocrisy that exists today in Brussels, in the EU, regarding enlargement.
Peter Szijjártó stressed that the more advanced countries in the accession process also made clear their request to Oliver Várhelyi to continue with the neighbourhood and enlargement policies, but despite this, this will not be the case in the end.
Today, the European Union, Brussels, the officials, Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, are showing astonishing hypocrisy regarding enlargement and are not in favor of enlargement (…) Of course, we do not lose our enthusiasm for this, and there are quite a few other countries in this category.
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He added that the Hungarian government will continue to do everything in its power to ensure that the Western Balkan countries can join the European Union as soon as possible. Finally, the minister also touched upon the fact that each member state has the right to appoint a commissioner and to decide who to nominate.
“Therefore, I start from the assumption that the European Parliament is occupied by democrats so fantastically committed that no country will be deprived of this sovereign right.– He said.
