Szijjarto: Against EU interests to postpone Albania, North Macedonia accession talks

The lack of a decision to open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia by the competent EU ministers on Tuesday goes against the interests of the European Union, central Europe and Hungary, Peter Szijjarto, Hungary's foreign minister, has said. Szijjarto told a press conference that central European countries had a strong and united position in support of enlargement, but agreement had not been forthcoming due to resistance on the part of some western member states. "No physical or legal obstacle was in the way of making the decision to open accession negotiations today," he said. Szijjarto said it was "shameful" that "tactical games" concerning timing were being played, adding that it was clear that delaying the release of the European Commission's enlargement package had been deliberate, and time had now run out.