New EU presidency and Balkans

Hungary has taken over at the helm of EU's rotating six-month presidency and outlined its priorities. The union's enlargement to the Western Balkans countries was included as "an important item", Beta news agency reports, and adds that this comes despite the fact that Hungary is aware there is resistance to enlargement within the organization. New EU presidency and Balkans Europe must remain open toward those countries that meet the necessary conditions, the Hungarian EU presidency program said. Hungary believes that completion of technical negotiations with Croatia by mid-2011 would prove that there is basis to belief that the Western Balkans countries can and should fulfill the more challenging conditions to join the organization. The program stresses that it was a "historical success" that enlargement was implemented in parallel with the deepening economic crisis. The presidency statement also said that the EU Council of Ministers decision to ask the European Commission to produce an opinion about Serbia's bid to become a candidate for membership - amounted to a clear message that strengthens the process of integrations. Hungarian FM Janos Martonyi also expressed his disappointment that there were delays to the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, and said this dialogue should start with "technical, neutral" issues. "More sensitive, more status-related issues" should be left for later, said he. Hungary said its priorities were EU's economic recovery and job-creation, long-term energy security and creation of a safe energy supply network among EU members, as well as adoption of a Danube region development strategy.

New EU presidency and Balkans

Europe must remain open toward those countries that meet the necessary conditions, the Hungarian EU presidency program said.

Hungary believes that completion of technical negotiations with Croatia by mid-2011 would prove that there is basis to belief that the Western Balkans countries can and should fulfill the more challenging conditions to join the organization.

The program stresses that it was a "historical success" that enlargement was implemented in parallel with the deepening economic crisis.

The presidency statement also said that the EU Council of Ministers decision to ask the European Commission to produce an opinion about Serbia's bid to become a candidate for membership - amounted to a clear message that strengthens the process of integrations.

Hungarian FM Janos Martonyi also expressed his disappointment that there were delays to the Belgrade-Priština dialogue, and said this dialogue should start with "technical, neutral" issues.

"More sensitive, more status-related issues" should be left for later, said he.

Hungary said its priorities were EU's economic recovery and job-creation, long-term energy security and creation of a safe energy supply network among EU members, as well as adoption of a Danube region development strategy.