The Hungarian capital hosted an intergovernmental summit, welcoming North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, who was received by Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
A key topic of discussion was illegal migration. Earlier, Orban wrote on social media platform X:
We cannot protect the people of Europe from illegal migration without the support of the Western Balkan countries. North-Macedonia is one of our most important partners in this respect. Thank you for your support, Prime Minister!
Hungary Stands for Peace
At the press conference following the meeting, PM Orban emphasized that all of Europe has been living in the shadow of war for three years. He expressed hope that peace would soon replace war.
Viktor Orban informed the North Macedonian prime minister that Hungary welcomes the initiation of U.S.-Russia negotiations.
"We Hungarians have a vested interest in the success of these talks," he added.
I also informed Mr. Prime Minister that we disagree with certain EU member states—who are also allies and friends—who decided that Ukraine must continue the war,
Orban stressed, highlighting: "We believe continuing the war is wrong, dangerous, and a mistake. On Thursday, we will discuss this in Brussels."
I welcomed the UN peace resolutions, pointing out that Hungary and North Macedonia supported the U.S. proposal, which was later adopted by the UN Security Council,
he noted.
Key Topic: Migration
Migration was a significant topic during the discussions. Hungary is grateful to North Macedonia for protecting its borders, which in turn helps protect Hungary as well.
The more effectively they protect their borders, the fewer migrants attack Hungary’s southern border. I informed the North Macedonian government that we reject the EU’s migration pact and will never accept it,
Orban stated. "For this, we must pay penalties in the name of European 'friendship'," he added with sarcasm.
Hungary continues to support North Macedonia’s EU integration. Orban criticized the shamefully slow progress of the accession process, emphasizing that the responsibility lies with the EU member states, not North Macedonia.
I see no ability within the EU to improve competitiveness—only expansion can help. Every past enlargement has improved the EU’s competitiveness, including Hungary’s accession,
Orban declared.
Strong Economic Cooperation
The two leaders reviewed bilateral relations, noting that trade has steadily increased. Since Hungary's patriotic government took office in 2010, trade volume between the two countries has grown sevenfold.
"We consider North Macedonia, Hungary, and Serbia part of the same economic region. We believe this can be organized into a unified economic area with great potential. The problem is that we are inside the EU, and they are outside," Orban explained.
To address this, the Hungarian and North Macedonian governments held a joint meeting to deepen intergovernmental relations and economic cooperation.
This encompasses the closest and deepest cooperation possible between our governments and the connection of our economic systems, which requires state participation. We have strong financial cooperation and are planning an intergovernmental economic agreement,
The Hungarian PM said.
However, he emphasized that private capital and businesses must also play a role.
In reviewing the situation of the Western World to which both countries belong, Orban reiterated:
In front of the Hungarian public, I would also like to thank you for coming, and we are grateful for your cooperation.
North Macedonia’s EU Aspirations
Mickoski expressed gratitude for Hungary’s support and hospitality, reiterating that North Macedonia remains committed to EU membership.
This is our strategic goal, and we will continue to pursue it. We must recognize the significant effort the Macedonian people have put into achieving this,
Mickoski said, hoping the accession process would soon resume.
Hungary has simply helped to modernize our country a bit. Today's meeting was about further deepening bilateral cooperation, especially in the field of infrastructure, but the defense and interior ministers also discussed cooperation in these areas,
Mickoski added.
Mr. Prime Minister Orban has long proved he is a man of integrity with opinions of his own. His words have weight and he serves as an inspiration to others.
He cited the unwavering position it has built up to defend Europe's borders, in which the two sides are cooperating.
Ultimately, our goal is to build a stable, strong, and developing North Macedonia as an EU member. Hungary's support is crucial in this process,
Mickoski added.
Orban to Meet with Macron
Responding to journalists, Viktor Orban confirmed that he would meet with the French president in Paris on Wednesday ahead of the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday.
What was previously concealable, what could be bridged by communication, by wordings, by press conferences, can no longer be bridged. A strategic divide has become clear, and the U.S. presidential election has made it impossible to hide. There are those who want peace and those who want war,
he remarked. Apart from the Vatican, only Hungary and Slovakia have explicitly called for peace, he said, while the U.S. and most European countries have advocated for continued war.
Now that the U.S. also stands for peace, the difference between the two camps can no longer be concealed. One is a pro-war camp, the other is pro-peace. This is the challenge we must face on Thursday.
The EU summit will also discuss Europe's military security, independent of the Russia-Ukraine war and transatlantic divisions, the PM stated.
This is a strategic, not tactical agenda point, having financial, technological, commercial, and military development aspects. Here, I see a greater chance for cooperation than in the peace-versus-war debate,
Viktor Orban noted.
Regarding North Macedonia’s prolonged EU accession process, Viktor Orban remarked: "Of course, this is not fair, but it is not my job to voice the rightful moral outrage of the Macedonians, they will do that themselves."
As the leader of a member state that was engaged in long negotiations before joining the European Union, I am familiar with this entire process, and I find what the European Union is doing shameful,
he said. He added that North Macedonia is not the only country in the Western Balkans that has been treated unfairly by Brussels, but North Macedonia suffers the greatest unfairness and mistreatment. The accession negotiations have been bilateralized, meaning that individual member states have been allowed to impose conditions on North Macedonia and refer these issues to bilateral talks without Brussels assisting in their resolution.
Without underestimating its own weight and strength, Hungary must admit that it cannot change this European attitude alone.
What we can do, as an EU member state, is to cooperate as closely as possible with North Macedonia in financial, economic, cultural, security, and law enforcement matters. This does not replace integration, but it is similar to some little form of integration. A special North Macedonia–Hungary relationship is unfolding, which could accelerate the EU accession process and, as I said, help create a viable and strong economic region comprising North Macedonia, Serbia, and Hungary, independent of the EU,
he said.
Strong Hungary-U.S. ties
There is a growing and increasingly dense network of relations between the United States and Hungary, Viktor Orban responded to a journalist's question. This can be identified at all level in economic life, at lower levels of government, in diplomacy, at the middle level, and at the highest level. He stated:
From this point on, it is not particularly newsworthy that the Hungarian prime minister speaks with the American president. This is how it usually happens when necessary. Similarly, Hungary’s foreign minister meeting with the US secretary of state today carries no particular news value. I suggest we now consider this a part of normal life, as both the United States and Hungary are engaged in the same civilizational struggle to save the West. Our cooperation is not merely based on tactical or economic interests.
The progressives are on one side and the patriots are on the other, he emphasized.
PM Orban included the new US government, Hungary, and several other European political forces in this group. Regarding the situation in Serbia, the prime minister remarked that anyone with an average interest in politics can see that since the patriots won in the United States, destabilization efforts in Central Europe have intensified.
Serbia is also suffering from this, in my view. Three countries are in the crosshairs: Serbia, Slovakia, and Hungary.
Viktor Orban pointed out that there is a financial and political machinery operating globally. In the past, it took control of the US government, Brussels, and several European member states.
Recall our struggle against Soros’s network, the final battles of which we plan to conclude by Easter. These global financial forces have lost Washington, withdrawn to Brussels, and are now fighting for their positions in Central Europe. In these three countries—Serbia, Slovakia, and Hungary—patriots are in power. What you are witnessing now is a direct consequence of this. So I don't want to comment on a single event but rather on a process of events, which can be observed in Slovakia, Serbia, and to a lesser extent in Hungary as well. These networks have clients, they have masters who pay them, feed them, support them, and give them instructions,
Viktor Orban emphasized.
He added that what is currently happening in the region is an intensified period of struggle. However, he believes that all three countries—Serbia, Slovakia, and Hungary—are capable of protecting their own stability, and he wished Serbia success in this effort. He stated that Hungary’s national interest is to be surrounded by stable countries.
We pursue a responsible neighborhood policy, and Macedonia is included in this circle. We support those countries in this region whose stability is important to Hungary. So we are not just providing assistance to North Macedonia, or acting out of humanitarian motives, but the stability of North Macedonia is a key issue for Hungary's security, he said.
That is why Hungary cooperates with North Macedonia, we provide assistance when needed, and they also help us. So there is a regional system of common interests here. That is why Hungary provides financial assistance to North Macedonia, that is why they offer us opportunities for economic cooperation. I repeat, what lies behind all this is not only sympathy and a shared history, but also a well-understood Hungarian national interest,
Viktor Orban highlighted. It is equally crucial for Hungary that Serbia and Slovakia remain stable countries, as this would best ensure Hungary’s security and development.
Cover photo: Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski of North Macedonia (Photo: Sandor Csudai)
