Fidesz MEP calls for more sensitive approach to Western Balkans

Addressing a debate in an EP plenary session on the European Commission’s 2022 report on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Gal said the report was “unbalanced” and “intensified conflicts instead of easing tensions”.

Hungary’s stance on Bosnia and Herzegovina demonstrates that dialogue based on mutual understanding is needed instead of “lecturing and threats of sanctions”, Gal said. She said this policy had been vindicated by the autonomous Serb Republic’s approval of two of the three so-called Berlin Process agreements following Hungary’s intercession.

Gal called it “unacceptable” that the EP’s “left-wing majority is advocating party interests when, for example, it criticises the presence of Hungarian companies, conflating them with Chinese companies from outside the EU”.

She added that it was “unfair” that the report was being used to mount an ideologically based attack against the commissioner for enlargement.

Gal urged meaningful support for Bosnia and Herzegovina, which she said would best be provided by speeding up the bloc’s enlargement.

Oliver Varhelyi, the European commissioner for neighbourhood and enlargement, said everything was in place for Bosnia and Herzegovina to begin to deliver on the key priorities needed for its EU accession.

The EU believes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Varhelyi said. Though further reforms are needed, there have been positive developments, such as the adoption of the state budget, the migration strategy and the counter-terrorism strategy, he said.