The July 2024 edition of the IRMO Brief, authored by Ivana Ranković, deals with the Hungary’s Presidency of the Council of the EU and its policy towards the Western Balkans (WB6). Starting from July 1, Hungary took over its rotating EU presidency under the official slogan “Make Europe Great Again”. Creating closer ties with the countries in the WB6 is part of Hungary’s wider Southeastern opening approach, which aims to develop trade and investment ties with Eastern countries. While Serbia remains Hungary’s closest ally in the WB6, Hungary has also forged strong political and economic ties with North Macedonia and Republica Srpska entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite the fact that Hungary advocates for the inclusion of the WB6 in the EU single market, it has also been criticized by Brussels for creating illiberal alliances in the region. The author also analyses how China’s commitment to continue investing in Serbia and Hungary, reconfirmed in May during the visit of Chinese president Xi Jinping, will impact the geopolitical situation the WB6 and its road to EU.
Image: European Union
