Hungary Joins Friends of the Western Balkans as Full Member, Says Foreign Minister

Anita Orbán explained that Hungary was invited as an observer to the Friends of the Western Balkans gathering in Rome last July, and within two months the country secured full membership, now sitting as a member in New York. She stressed that the stability and EU integration of the Western Balkans are direct Hungarian interests because of geographic proximity and shared economic, transport, energy and people-to-people ties.

Orbán pointed out progress in Montenegro and Albania and called for accelerating accession processes for the remaining Balkan states based on merit. Hungarian experts are already assisting all six countries, and a dedicated envoy in the Foreign Ministry handles Balkan affairs. The work will continue at a meeting in Athens in November, and Hungary has offered to host the next group summit in 2027.