site.btaHungary's EU Presidency Reconfirms that Abolishing Schengen Land Borders for Bulgaria, Romania Is among Its Priorities

The Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, which starts on 1 July and lasts until the end of the year, confirmed Tuesday that it has among its priorities achieving a positive decision on the abolition of the Schengen land borders for Bulgaria and Romania by the end of the year.

Concluding this issue is a priority for the Hungarian Presidency, Hungary's Ambassador to the EU, Balint Odor, told journalists in Brussels.

He added that reducing the number of migrants arriving illegally is also among Budapest's top tasks.

Among the other priorities of his country's Presidency are improving the European defence production capabilities and continuing the EU enlargement into the Western Balkans and the other candidates from the eastern part of Europe.

Hungary wants to make as much progress as possible with the countries of the Western Balkans, to start substantive negotiations with Albania, to move forward with North Macedonia. To speed up the process, Budapest is ready to host an EU-Western Balkans meeting, said the Ambassador.

He added that his country will do everything it can for a smooth transition given the geopolitical context, will be an honest broker, will continue working for Ukraine and the Middle East, and take the necessary steps, the Ambassador said.