{"id":97899,"date":"2025-10-30T15:00:18","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T23:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/?p=97899"},"modified":"2025-10-30T06:27:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T14:27:41","slug":"most-europeans-favor-enlargement-hungary-wants-the-balkans-but-not-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/prophecy\/most-europeans-favor-enlargement-hungary-wants-the-balkans-but-not-ukraine\/","title":{"rendered":"Most Europeans favor enlargement, Hungary wants the Balkans, but not Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n(EU Enlargement Forum banner, fair use)<\/em><\/p>\n

COGwriter<\/a><\/p>\n

While much of the media has been focused on Donald Trump and Asia, the European Union wants to expand.<\/p>\n

There is a European Union Enlargement forum scheduled for November 18, 2025 in the Charlemagne Building in Brussels, Belgium.<\/p>\n

Here is some EU information about it, as well as a meeting scheduled before it:<\/p>\n

The EU Enlargement Forum is the European Commission\u2019s flagship initiative to elevate the conversation on EU enlargement as a shared political, societal, and generational project. The renewed momentum for enlargement is a cornerstone of the 2024\u20132029 European Commission strategic vision. Enlargement is central to the EU\u2019s ability to project stability, prosperity, and democratic values beyond its borders, and within. It reinforces the Union\u2019s strategic interests, supports economic growth and competitiveness, strengthens energy security, and anchors reforms in governance and the rule of law. The EU is actively engaging the most ambitious enlargement agenda in over a decade. For the first time in a generation, the prospect of a bigger Union is within reach. …<\/p>\n

To discuss the challenges, opportunities, and real-world practicalities of gradual integration, on 6 November,\u00a0Carnegie Europe will host a public event<\/span><\/a> with Stefan Lehne, senior fellow at Carnegie Europe, Gert Jan Koopman, Director-General of DG ENEST, and Iliriana Gjoni, research analyst at Carnegie Europe. https:\/\/enlargement.ec.europa.eu\/enlargement-policy\/eu-enlargement-forum_en<\/a> accessed 10\/30\/25<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A recent poll showed that most Europeans are supportive of EU expansion:<\/p>\n

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Attitudes towards EU Enlargement<\/h2>\n

56% of EU citizens are in favour of further EU enlargement. Support is particularly high among young people: around two-thirds of respondents aged 15 to 39 believe the (potential) candidates should join the EU once they meet the necessary conditions. …<\/p>\n

At the same time, respondents express concerns about potential future EU enlargement, the most mentioned being uncontrolled migration (40%), corruption and crime (39%), and the financial cost to European tax payers (37%). https:\/\/europa.eu\/eurobarometer\/surveys\/detail\/3413<\/a> accessed 10\/30\/25<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

An enlarged European Union means more people, more economic strength, more power in international trade, and less need to heed the United States of America. So, yes, expect more enlargement. Enlargement of the European Union is consistent with biblical prophecies (Daniel 8:9-12; Revelation 13:1-5, 17:1-2, 18:3,11), hence we will see Europe expand.<\/p>\n

Hungary supports enlargement for the Balkans, Georgia, and Moldova, but not Ukraine:<\/p>\n

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Hungary’s complicated enlargement policy: No to Ukraine, yes to the Western Balkans<\/h2>\n

30 October 2025<\/p>\n

Hungary is known in the European Union for its opposition to Ukraine’s EU membership bid, its veto pledge threatening the opening of negotiation chapters for Kyiv.<\/p>\n

Yet the Hungarian stance on enlargement represents a nuanced balancing act, as Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n strongly supports the efforts of the Western Balkan countries to join the EU, as well as those of Moldova and Georgia. …<\/p>\n

Hungary supports the EU’s enlargement to the Western Balkans, including Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina.<\/p>\n

Hungarian Minister for European Affairs J\u00e1nos B\u00f3ka said in October that their place is clearly in the European Union.<\/p>\n

“The countries of the Western Balkans have been fulfilling the majority of the conditions for membership for years, yet they are not progressing at the pace they deserve,” B\u00f3ka said.<\/p>\n

Budapest argues that enlargement would boost regional stability.<\/p>\n

“It is clear that if there is no stability in the Western Balkans, if there is unrest, and if conflicts determine everyday life, then there will be constant uncertainty radiating from the region,” Hungarian Foreign Minister P\u00e9ter Szijj\u00e1rt\u00f3 said last July.<\/p>\n

Hungary has strong business interests in the regions, particularly in energy and banking. Budapest also maintains ties with neighbouring Serbia. The two countries are closely cooperating in trade, migration, energy and defence. …<\/p>\n

“Hungary has supported Moldova’s EU membership so far, and we will continue to do so; there is no compromise or debate on this,” Viktor Orb\u00e1n said earlier this year, adding that Moldova provides a much-needed workforce to the EU.<\/p>\n

Hungary also supports Georgia’s accession, although the process stalled after tensions between the European Union and the ruling Georgian Dream party. https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2025\/10\/30\/hungarys-complicated-enlargement-policy-no-to-ukraine-yes-to-the-western-balkans<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Currently, four nations in the Balkan peninsula are in the European Union: Slovenia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Croatia (five if Romania is considered part of that peninsula).<\/p>\n

Many EU leaders wants the rest of the Balkan nations as well. Notice something from this past Spring:<\/p>\n

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EU launches Call for private investment in the Western Balkans to drive economic growth and boost EU integration<\/h2>\n

10 April 2025<\/p>\n

At the ADRIA Summit 2025 in Montenegro, the European Union announced a Call for Expressions of Interest<\/strong> to mobilise private investments in the Western Balkans aiming to support the region’s economic growth and integration into the EU Single Market. Businesses from the EU, EEA and the Western Balkans are invited to submit proposals for investment projects, with a deadline of 21 May 2025<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The European Commission will review proposals and aim to support the most suitable projects with its available policy, technical, or financial instruments.\u00a0<\/strong>The objective is to boost private investment in infrastructure development, economic diversification, the green and digital twin transition, and EU value chain integration, with a view to creating jobs and bridging the economic convergence gap with the EU\u00a0in line with the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.<\/strong> …<\/p>\n

The priority areas of the Call \u2013 based on the strategic priorities of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans<\/strong> and of the Western Balkans Investment Framework<\/strong> \u2013 are as follows:<\/p>\n