BRUSSELS – The EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn stated yesterday that he doesn’t believe that Nikola Gruevski will be extradited from Hungary to Macedonia.
When asked whether he supports the amendments of the European Parliament to the Commission’s Report on Macedonia that require Hungary to extradite Gruevski, Hahn answered that “I hope that will happen, but it is less likely because these two countries don’t have an agreement. However, I understand the position of the European Parliament.”
Reacting to the statement, Foreign Minister of Hungary Péter Szijjártó said that “the EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations should focus on enlargement, and not lawful procedures in member states”.
He did not mention Gruevski nor Macedonia by name. Former Prime Minister has recently been granted an asylum in Hunagary.
Zaev still has not lost hope
Following Commissioner Hahn’s expression of skepticism, Prime Minister of Macedonia Zoran Zaev said he had not lost hope.
“I am continuing to make efforts as President of the Government together with the institutions, to seek his extradition, because that is the least we can expect from a friendly country, such as Hungary, an EU member state,” said Zaev during a public debate on constitutional amendments.