The European Union must begin a period of reflection to reflect on how successful the European Union's strategy in relation to Ukraine has been so far, stated János Bóka, the minister responsible for European Union affairs, in Brussels on Wednesday.
Speaking to Hungarian journalists after the meeting of the EU member states' ministers responsible for general EU affairs, János Bóka emphasized that the discussion about the strategy followed in relation to Ukraine should cover how the support provided so far has been utilized, whether it is sustainable, and whether there are other options.
As a result of the discussion, the EU will be in a position to take a position both on the enlargement process affecting the country and on the revision of the seven-year budget framework plan regarding further subsidies.
The strategic discussion must precede these decisions, he stated.
The enlargement process is also a decisive issue from the point of view of the Hungarian EU presidency - said János Bóka, and then he added: with regard to the EU enlargement package, Hungary wants an appropriate political balance to be established between the old enlargement, the Western Balkans enlargement process and the new enlargement, the between eastern enlargement process.
He stated: the Western Balkans is a priority for Hungary.
For the European Union, the integration of the Western Balkans does not require fundamental institutional and budgetary changes, so connecting the institutional reforms with the Western Balkan enlargement is a political decision, which is not necessary.
In relation to the debate preparing the meeting of the European Council on December 14-15, he said: the overview of the situation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be on the table of the leaders of the member states, in connection with which the Hungarian position is that a terrorist organization carried out a terrorist attack against a sovereign state, and this a sovereign state is currently exercising its right to self-defense. The hostages held by the terrorist organization must be released immediately and unconditionally. The European Council cannot adopt a final declaration that does not include this. A prerequisite for joining all international declarations and initiatives on the part of the European Union is that it also provides for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages, he stated.
According to his information, the revision of the seven-year framework budget is also included in the December agenda of the European Council, in connection with which he stated: Hungary would consider an ideal instrument for supporting Ukraine that does not work within the framework budget plan, but outside of it.
This would make it possible for member states, international financial institutions and other interested parties to flexibly contribute to the support of Ukraine, János Bóka added.
MTI
Cover photo: János Bóka
Source: AFP
