The issue of EU enlargement is a priority for the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU. If there is anything to be done by the Hungarian Presidency, we are ready, including at the highest level. This was stated by the Hungarian Minister for European Affairs Janos Boka at a press conference in Budapest for European correspondents.
The process is blocked for political reasons, he said in response to a question related to the negotiations with Skopje and Tirana. These questions are decided by unanimity. There are many opportunities for unanimity, he added.
We have no mandate to negotiate the future of Ukraine. We have no intention of calling a peace conference or presenting a peace plan. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán sees an opportunity to facilitate a process that could bring peace closer, the minister said.
Hungary does not say what Ukrainians should do, what is possible politically and militarily. We give support to Kiev, but not directly military. This is of strategic interest to us, added Boca.
According to him, the elections for MEPs in June have shown that there is a clear desire to change the way the EU deals with challenges. Boca defined himself as a passionate European, but insisted that the EU can be changed and that the legislative initiative should rest with the states, and the European Commission should not be political.
According to him, there is an opportunity for Budapest and the EC to speed up the negotiations for the release of the blocked funds from the European budget for Hungary.