Katalin Novák: in the shadow of the war, less attention is paid to illegal migration

In the shadow of the war, less attention is paid to illegal migration – said President of Hungary Katalin Novák at her press meeting with President of North Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski in Skopje on Monday.

Katalin Novák noted that for Hungary, good relations with North Macedonia are a priority, as the EU integration of the Western Balkans is in the interest of the whole of Europe. During their meeting on Monday, Katalin Novák and Stevo Pendarovski discussed five key topics.

According to the Hungarian Head of State, at the moment the most important of these is the war in Ukraine. The two presidents have a common position: they condemn Russian aggression and stand up for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.

The President added: it is in both countries’ interest that a ceasefire is concluded in Ukraine as soon as possible so that peace talks may begin. Katalin Novák recalled that Hungary provides humanitarian assistance beyond its means: since the war started, more than a million refugees have arrived in the country from Ukraine. The EU integration of North Macedonia is a similarly important topic, as the stability of the Western Balkans is key to both the security of Europe and the fight against illegal migration – she concluded.

It is unfair to make North Macedonia wait too long for EU membership, the Hungarian Head of State warned, adding that this could also dampen the enthusiasm of the Macedonian people for accession. She said that they also reviewed the situation regarding illegal migration with President Stevo Pendarovski. Last year, twice as many illegal migrants arrived via the Western Balkan route as in 2021," she recalled.

There was agreement on the need to tackle the root-causes of migration in the sending countries and also on the need to stop illegal migration at Europe’s external borders. Katalin Novák emphasized that Hungary helps also in this: 30 Hungarian policemen serve at the North Macedonia – Greece border.

The President of Hungary shared the experiences of Hungary’s population policy and family support system with the President of North Macedonia, a country struggling with serious demographic challenges. The two Presidents also reviewed the results of the bilateral cooperation of the two countries. Responding to a question by a journalist on North Macedonia’s EU accession, Katalin Novák said it was right that accession was subject to strict criteria.

Referring to the corruption scandal unfolding in Brussels, she noted: the EU-should lead by example in the fight against corruption. The Head of State added: "I think it is right that the absence of corruption is a requirement. Let it be a requirement for the institutions of the European Union as well. Let us be at least as strict with our own European institutions as we are with the countries that are about to join or have already joined."

Also responding to a question, Katalin Novák stressed: ultimately, the Gruevski-case is the decision of the independent Hungarian judiciary, but nothing overshadows the very good relations between the two countries.

As regards the disputes between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, she recalled that during her visit to Sofia a few days ago, she had the opportunity to hear the Bulgarian side's position. Hungary does not take a position on this dispute, but it fully supports that an agreement is reached between the two sides, according to Katalin Novák.

Stevo Pendarovski commended the excellent relations between Hungary and North Macedonia. The President of North Macedonia thanked Hungary for continuing to give its support to North Macedonia’s EU membership and also for its support to North Macedonia assuming the rotating presidency of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

At the same time, the President of North Macedonia pointed out: The accession of North Macedonia to the EU is also in Hungary’s strategic interest, while his country is hoping to learn from the experiences of the regional cooperation between the Visegrad countries.

Economic relations between Hungary and North Macedonia are developing dynamically, and Hungary is one of the ten most important foreign trade partners of North Macedonia, said Stevo Pendarovski, who also thanked Hungary for the scholarships it provides to 20 North Macedonian students every year under the Stipendium Hungaricum programme.

At the press conference, both Presidents expressed their condolences to the victims of the earthquake in southern Türkiye in the early morning.