Incidentally the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the symbolic opening of the Iron Curtain by Austria and Hungary was preceded by an official visit of the Hungarian Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto to Albania where he met the highest local authorities conveying the message of Hungary’s support to the EU enlargement of the Western Balkans, including Albania
By Genc Mlloja
Senior Diplomatic Editor
Hungary and Austria have commemorated the 30th anniversary of the symbolic opening of the Iron Curtain in a ceremony held on June 27 this year outside the town of Sopron with the participation of the Hungarian and Austrian foreign ministers, Peter Szijjarto and Alexander Schallenberg, respectively, and the Governor of the Austrian state of Burgenland. The ceremony was held at the location where on June 27, 1989, the then foreign ministers of Hungary and Austria, Gyula Horn and Alois Mock, respectively cut through a section of the barbed wire that had divided their countries for decades. This symbolic act marked the beginning of the end for communist governments in central and eastern Europe. In Albania, too, the communist regime toppled down becoming as it was called the ‘last domino’ to enter the path of democracy and political pluralism.
Three decades later in their comments during the event in Sopron the two top diplomats of Austria and Hungary praised the ideal of freedom as a priority of their countries’ consistent stance towards European integration and the unification of the ‘Old Continent’ as they symbolically marked the cutting of the Iron Curtain by a remembrance stone and a lime tree between Sopron and the Hungarian-Austrian border.
“One of the messages of that year is that we must never forget how much we owe to European integration, because today we live at a level of stability and prosperity that our predecessors were unable to enjoy,” said Mr. Alexander Schallenberg, Austrian foreign minister. “The other message is that the unification process in Europe is still far from over, because many believe they are ‘closer to the fire’. It is the European Union’s task to take a clear stand against this.”
For his part the Hungarian minister said the fall of the Iron Curtain meant the birth of a new Europe. “Thirty years ago, socialism collapsed like a house of cards, and the barrier that had hindered the free movement of ideas, thoughts and people for decades disappeared; it meant the birth of a new Europe,” Mr. Szijjarto said. He highlighted that today in Central Europe we can see “vigorous, developing and proud” nations that are also capable of cooperation while taking into account national interests, and which contribute to a major extent to Europe’s economic performance and to preserving security. “The Hungarian Government has an overwhelming level of support, which also obligates it to take part in the debates on the future of Europe while taking into account the enforcement of national interests, in the interests of a strong Christian Europe made up of free and proud nations, in which nations are proud of their identity and insist on their historic, religious and cultural heritage,” he stated.
EU Enlargement high on Hungary’s political agenda
Incidentally the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the symbolic opening of the Iron Curtain by Austria and Hungary was preceded by an official visit of the Hungarian Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto to Albania where he met the highest local authorities conveying the message of Hungary’s support to the EU enlargement of the Western Balkans, including Albania.
“Hungary not only supports the enlargement of the European Union, but regards it as one of the most important EU policies, and it wishes to continue to work in close cooperation with Albania to curb illegal immigration,” said the Hungarian top diplomat on June 26 in the Albanian capital, Tirana.
Mr. Szijjarto said it was regrettable that the commencement of negotiations on the accession of Albania and North Macedonia to the European Union was postponed at the recent meeting of EU foreign ministers. The politician said the European Commission’s decision concerning the fact that it should be waited until 2025 for the accession of any new member states was incomprehensible. “We regard this as unacceptable. There are still 2000 days until 2025, and there are no issues that cannot be discussed and sorted out within this period of time,” Mr. Szijjarto said, pointing out that according to Central European experience the EU is the best instrument for easing local tensions, and in his opinion the same would be true for the Western Balkans.
“The Western Balkans is at the forefront of Hungarian foreign policy, and the Hungarian delegation arrived at last week’s EU summit in Luxembourg representing the position that accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia should begin immediately,” he added. “The arguments against, including the fact that there wasn’t enough time, were ridiculous in view of the fact that Albania has been a prospective member for five years now, and all negotiating parties new full well what the schedule of accession negotiations would look like,” Mr. Szijjarto said in Tirana. He revealed that Hungary has already been providing two experts to the Albanian Foreign Ministry to help with the integration process, and this will continue to be the case in future.
Receiving Mr. Szijjarto during his visit to Tirana, Albanian President Ilir Meta praised the traditionally very good relations between Albania and Hungary and the potential for their deepening especially in the economic field. Mr. Meta also evaluated highly Budapest’s sincere support to Albania’s EU integration drive having as a further step the opening of the accession talks as soon as possible.
A quick review of Hungary’s efforts in support of Albania’s ambition to join the EU reveals that this country has been one of the staunchest supporters of the opening of Albania’s EU accession talks.
A clear evidence of this is what the Hungarian Ambassador to Tirana, Lorant Balla told Albanian Daily News on February 14, 2019 in an exclusive interview according to whom his country was committed towards Albania’s EU integration. “Yes, we are unwavering supporters of the integration process; yes, we hope the accession negotiations can be opened soon,” Mr. Balla said.
Hungary Number One Trade Partner of WB
Besides the political aspect in Hungary’s view the integration of the Western Balkans is beneficial for the Union in the economic perspective against the backdrop of the developments in the Continent and at a world scale. But EU enlargement in the direction of the Western Balkans is also seen in the perspective of Hungary’s national security and its economic interests.
“The enlargement of the European Union is necessary, because this is one of the prerequisites for the community to regain its lost competitiveness,” noted Mr. Szijjarto on June 25 in Skopje at a joint press conference with North Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister Bujar Osmani. “We are positive that the Western Balkan enlargement of the European Union is a true European interest from both an economic and security perspective,” he stated, adding: “This is why the Government believes that the decision by the General Affairs Council undermines the credibility of enlargement policy.”
Hungary is the number one trade partner of the Western Balkans from among its neighboring countries, with a value exceeding 4 billion euros. This process was expanded by a further 9 percent during the first quarter of this year.
“It would be in Hungary economic interests for the barriers deriving from the fact that Hungary is an EU member state, while the countries of the Western Balkans are not, to disappear,” the Hungarian Foreign Minister argued.
In the meantime given the Brexit the EU is expected to be weakened as a result of the exit of the United Kingdom. According to official figures about 14 percent of the EU’s economic performance exits the Union due to Brexit which undoubtedly means various economic challenges.
“The enlargement of the EU with the Western Balkan region could be a response to these challenges, and this is something that the countries of the Visegrad Group (V4) support,” it is officially said in Budapest.
Stability in WB crucial for Hungary, Union
As a country living in the neighborhood of the Western Balkans, Hungary is sensitive towards stability in the region insisting that it realizes the difference between stability in this region and its lack. In this sense Budapest encourages Brussels to consider this aspect as of paramount importance for maintaining stability in Europe and the EU member countries.
“EU enlargement in the direction of the Western Balkans could provide the region with a major level of stability. This is of key importance with relation to stopping mass illegal migration, since a stable Western Balkans will be able to better withstand migration pressure,” Mr. Szijjarto says.
On the other hand, Hungary pays special attention to the question of security in the Western Balkans. Its defense minister Tibor Benko said on June 28, 2019 in a two-day ministerial meeting of NATO member states that the security situation in the Western Balkans was of great importance for his country.
“Whereas Hungary’s security situation could be said to be stable, the country intersected with eastern and southern potential flashpoints. The stability of the Western Balkans is vitally important to Hungary in this respect,” he said.
Mr. Benko noted that Hungary is raising the number of troops involved in peacekeeping and various other missions, and he revealed after the meeting as quoted by MTI that Hungary and Croatia are setting up a joint division to serve the region’s security interests.
In addition according to the official stance of Budapest the greatest challenge facing the European Union continues to be migration and immigration pressure still exists and represents a security risk. Official Hungarian sources underscore that large numbers of migrants are still trying to get into Europe via the Western Balkans. A report by MTI news agency quoted official sources saying that over 500 illegal immigrants arrived in Albania via Greece this year, and they regard it as important that Albania should continue to guard its borders decisively and securely.
In face of this increasing challenge Hungary is providing concrete assistance. Official figures show that 15 Hungarian police officers are working on Serbia’s southern border, 20 on North Macedonia’s border, and 160 soldiers are performing their duties within the framework of the UN mission in Bosnia-Hercegovina. In addition 392 Hungarian soldiers are deployed with the KFOR mission in Kosovo, which will be supplemented by a further 60, and Hungary has also applied for the post of commander.
Albania a growing tourist attraction of Hungarians
Generally speaking, the bilateral relations between Albania and Hungary have been strong and close. An added value to such a relationship is the fact that the two nations’ history is full of common points, events and personalities.
Economic and trade exchanges are well on track: in the last years trade between the two countries has been developing due to the opening of Budapest-Tirana direct flight that is contributing to the boost of Hungarian tourists to Albania and also due to the friendly, traditionally good relations as well as in economic and political fields. In 2018 three times more Hungarians arrived in Albania than three years ago, and it is important that Albania is a well-known and attractive tourist destination in Hungary.
“The greatest achievement though is the first Hungarian investment in the financial sector, the Bank called OTP, which is one of the leading banks in Hungary. We do believe that with a Bank in Albania we will attract more Hungarian small- and medium size enterprises and encourage them to do business here,” said Hungarian Ambassador Balla.
Hungary is not interested only in increasing exports to Albania, but ready to assist in many other areas, such as the exchange of know-how and technology in significant sectors such as water-management, agriculture, food industry and transport.
Hungary, according to Mr. Balla, has become an active donor with the support of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and with the effective involvement of the private sector. “Just to mention a few examples of 2018: along with the 100 villages program of Albania, Hungary is going to build two more kinderpitches within the framework of Hungary Helps program. Additionally, through a grant provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, companies are assisting many municipalities in Albania in improving their water management system.”
Budapest’s top diplomat to Tirana has revealed that his country’s goal is to keep economic ties strong with Albania and open new possibilities for Hungarian companies. “For this we are going to develop our grant scheme and also strengthen the cooperation with a credit line ensured by Hungarian EximBank,” he said.
Hungary has achieved much for itself over the past decade as part of the EU despite the fact that its relationship with the Union has not always been smooth. Among the most significant achievements is the improvement of its relationships with its CEE neighbors. Hungary participates in 10 territorial cooperation programmes: four bilateral cross-border cooperation programmes with other member states (Austria, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia) and two transnational cooperation programmes: the Central Europe programme and the South-East Europe’ programme, for which Hungary has management responsibility.
Given this positive experience of cooperation with other regions Hungary has large potential to promote its bilateral ties with Western Balkan countries but as the future clearly lies within the EU it has become a promoter to fully integrate these countries within the block. Its journey since 2004 in EU can be an outstanding example to be followed by aspirant WB countries, including Albania, and its experience can be beneficial for the would-be EU members to accomplish the requirements to be welcomed to the Union in the next years. /ADN
