Steven N.Viktor Orbán took part in a video conference on Monday in preparation for the next EU summit on Thursday and Friday. At the initiative of European Council President Charles Michel, the Hungarian Prime Minister met with the prime ministers of Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, Luxembourg and Malta, said Bertalan Havasi, the Prime Minister’s spokesman, to state news agency MTI.
Orbán agreed with the EU proposal to grant European Union candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova. But he added that Hungary and several other member states believe that Georgia and Bosnia should also be offered candidacy for EU membership, and at the same pace as the other two countries.
The European Commission recently declared its support for officially designating Ukraine as a candidate country for European Union membership.
Ukrainians are ready to die for the European perspective. We want them to live with us the European dream.
-wrote European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Twitter shortly after the announcement.
While EU candidate status for Ukraine could bring the war-torn country closer to European integration, the European Council, comprised of heads of state and government from EU Member States, also has to give its blessing to any new members to the 27-nation bloc.
The Commission is also proposing candidate status for Moldova, but currently not for Georgia. [Telex]
