Brussels, 14/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 14 April, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán gave a mixed report on the “first half” of the Hungarian Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers. While a number of important issues had been “put on track” for approval by the end of June - the six legislative proposals on economic governance, the Danube strategy, the framework strategy on Roma integration - another Hungarian priority, enlargement of the EU to the Balkans, had not made the hoped-for progress. The situation is “dramatic”, with support among member states for enlargement policy never having been as weak as now, Orbán lamented to the press in Brussels. Croatia is the first victim of this as its accession negotiations, which the Hungarian Presidency wanted to finalise before June, have “begun to lag”. Over the two and half months left to it, the Presidency wants to “bring together all the supporters of enlargement” and launch an “offensive” against the growing reluctance across Europe to the accession of the Balkan countries. After the fall of Communism, the same fears and scepticism were expressed about the countries of Central and Eastern Europe which now have competitive industries and economies without which the economic crisis in the EU would have been much worse, Orbán said. “We, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, have not become a burden (for the EU) but have become potential for growth. The same potential has to be seen in the Balkans, which can also one day become the driver of Europe.” Budapest will do all in its power to conclude accession talks with Croatia before the end of June. It will also try to end the “absurd” situation in which the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) finds itself, as an applicant country (since December 2005) unable to begin accession negotiations because of the veto applied by Greece which first wants to settle the issue of the name “Macedonia”. “Talks (with FYROM) have to begin as soon as possible”, he declared. The continuing blockage of the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area is also a source of irritation to the Hungarian Presidency. Romania is already technically ready, Bulgaria will be by May, so there is no reason whatsoever not to let them join the Schengen area, Orbán argued. He said he is doing all he can to free up the situation and to convince the few larger countries (Germany, France and the Netherlands) which are blocking the move to lift their “political” reservations. Above all, he stressed, there should be open debate and not “pacts made in dark corners”, he said. (H.B./transl.rt)