During General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, European Union member states reaffirmed their commitment to an enlargement process based on merit, with the Western Balkans in focus.
Hungary’s Minister for European Affairs, János Bóka, introduced Hungary’s EU presidency priorities, emphasizing that enlargement remains one of the EU’s most successful policies.
As EU Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders confirmed, the European Commission will soon unveil a comprehensive enlargement package, detailing candidate countries’ progress and providing clear reform guidelines. Reynders underscored that the process remains strictly merit-based, reflecting the EU’s internal readiness to welcome new members.
Support for the enlargement, while concentrated on the Western Balkans, extended beyond, with member states like France and Slovakia advocating for inclusion of countries like Ukraine and Moldova.
The Czech Republic and Poland expressed hopes for continued momentum, with an emphasis on maintaining the integrity of merit-based criteria, while Slovenia welcomed Hungary’s intention to host a Western Balkans summit during its presidency. Despite this broad backing, some ministers voiced concerns over Hungary’s presidency, particularly its omission of Ukraine as a priority amidst the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe.