Hungary blames Finland for EU enlargement flop

Hungary's foreign minister on Monday attacked Finland, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, for failing to achieve the further enlargement of the bloc with the entry of Western Balkan countries.

Finland, as EU president, was responsible for a "huge failure" on enlargement, Peter Szijjarto said after a meeting with his Czech, Polish and Slovak counterparts in Prague.

"They are the first presidency which was unable to open one single (negotiating) chapter with any of the candidates - it hasn't ever happened before," said Szijjarto said.

That, he added, was "a huge, huge mistake".

At a summit in October, EU powerhouse France sparked anger when it blocked the start of enlargement talks with North Macedonia and Albania.