War is doubly bad for Western Balkans countries

The war in Ukraine is doubly bad for the Western Balkans countries aspiring to accession to the European Union as it is taking EU funds away from the enlargement process, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated at a press conference held together with President of the Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Friday.

He stressed that the war being brought to a conclusion within the shortest possible time and the process of integration currently under way being completed were common interests.

The EU has recently decided to spend another EUR 50 billion on supporting Ukraine, but how much further forward Bosnia and Herzegovina – for one – could be if a fraction of this enormous sum was spent on the Western Balkans, he pointed out.

Milorad Dodik agreed with Mr Orbán’s statement, and said long-term interests must be borne in mind. He also agreed that the Balkans could develop at a faster pace if “the war didn’t take all the money away.”

He highlighted that the end of the war was not yet in sight, and pointed out that efforts had to be made to prevent any encouragement aimed at the continuation of the conflict. He took the view that all signs in the lead-up to the elections in the European Union and the United States appear to indicate that the war will gain in intensity.

The Bosnian Serb leader also said he does not wish to sever links with the Russian leadership. He said they will likewise not agree to Bosnia and Herzegovina consenting to the sanctions against Moscow, he added.