Croatia and Serbia’s integration in the European Union will be among Hungary’s main priorities when it takes over the bloc’s rotating presidency in 2011, Hungary’s premier said here Wednesday.

“The question (of the E.U. integration) of Croatia and Serbia must be among the priorities,” Prime Minister Viktor Orban told reporters after meeting here with his Slovenian counterpart Borut Pahor.

“We have to state very clearly that the time has come to move forward concerning (the E.U. accession of) Croatia,” Orban said.

During its six-month presidency, Hungary “will do whatever is possible so that a decision is taken concerning Croatia’s accession.”

“There is no reason to leave Croatia waiting,” Orban said.

Croatia hopes to conclude EU accession talks by the middle of next year in order to become a fully fledged member of the union by 2012.

Orban also urged the E.U. to continue with the integration of Serbia and warned “it would be harmful for the EU if Serbia would remain in front of the (EU’s) door.”

“EU membership must remain open for Serbia and talks in this direction have to continue,” Orban said during his one-day visit to Slovenia, as part of preparations for Hungary’s E.U. presidency, which begins on January 1, 2011.

Slovenia, the first former Yugoslav state to join the E.U. in 2004, was also the first new member state to hold the EU’s rotating presidency in 2008.

October 20, 2010
AFP

• A Permanent Economic Emergency