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Europe Today: ЕС обсуждает расширение на саммите с Западными Балканами
Лидеры ЕС и стран Западных Балкан собираются в Черногории накануне высокоуровневого саммита по расширению союза. Страна-хозяйка считается одним из фаворитов и может вступить в ЕС уже в 2028 году. Наш обозреватель по делам ЕС Мария Тадео работает в прямом эфире из Тивата.
ЧИТАТЬ ДАЛЕЕ : http://ru.euronews.com/2026/06/04/europe-today-eu-considers-expansion-at-a-high-stakes-eu-western-balkans-summit
Подписывайтесь: Euronews можно смотреть на Dailymotion на 12 языках
Лидеры ЕС и стран Западных Балкан собираются в Черногории накануне высокоуровневого саммита по расширению союза. Страна-хозяйка считается одним из фаворитов и может вступить в ЕС уже в 2028 году. Наш обозреватель по делам ЕС Мария Тадео работает в прямом эфире из Тивата.
ЧИТАТЬ ДАЛЕЕ : http://ru.euronews.com/2026/06/04/europe-today-eu-considers-expansion-at-a-high-stakes-eu-western-balkans-summit
Подписывайтесь: Euronews можно смотреть на Dailymotion на 12 языках
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00:00Субтитры делал DimaTorzok
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01:00The announcement comes just hours after Kuwait International Airport suspended all commercial flights after Iranian drones caused severe damage.
01:09And bad news for Berlin. Despite lobbying hard, Germany has failed to secure a seat on the UN Security Council,
01:18with Portugal and Austria receiving more votes for the two Western European seats starting in 2027.
01:24The last time Germany was on the UN Security Council was back in 2020.
01:28But first, European and some Western Balkan leaders are gathering in Montenegro ahead of a high-level summit focused on
01:35expanding the European Union.
01:38Montenegro, the host, is also a front-runner here, hoping to join the bloc as soon as 2028.
01:43Now, while not officially on the agenda, Ukraine will also dominate the talks.
01:47For more, we can go straight to the coastal town of Tivat, where our Europe editor, Maria Tadeo, is reporting
01:53live for us.
01:54Maria, great to have you with us.
01:55Look, we've seen, though, many, many meetings like this in the past with not a lot of deliberals.
02:01Will this time be different?
02:05Well, good morning, Maeve.
02:06And indeed, because if you look at the history of accession when it comes to the EU Western Balkans, it's
02:11one of delays, disappointment and frustration.
02:14But the message that the European institutions will deliver and the message that the head of the European Council, Antonio
02:20Costa, will hammer down is that now there is real momentum.
02:24Because bringing these countries, the six-partner countries, closer to the European political union through the EU is now a
02:32geopolitical imperative.
02:33It is also a need when it comes to the security infrastructure of Europe.
02:38Now, that is, as I say, the message that Antonio Costa, who will co-chair a dinner today, but also
02:43a summit tomorrow, will deliver.
02:45And he has been on a tour of the Western Balkans throughout this week.
02:49It is also no coincidence that this summit is happening in Montenegro because this is a country that is now
02:54clearly seen as the frontrunner.
02:57Of course, 28 by 28.
02:59The idea that there could be a new member state in the European Union by 2028.
03:04And I can tell you just anecdotally, Maeve, yesterday when we landed in this country at the airport at dinner
03:10also, everyone knew and everyone was aware that this summit is happening.
03:14There have been many conversations that we had around the idea of joining and it's pretty much taken as a
03:19given here.
03:19There is this aspiration to join this European Union.
03:22But, of course, we know that this region is diverse and it is also complex.
03:26It's not the same message for every of the participating countries.
03:30But the message, as I say, from the institutions will be there is now real momentum.
03:34It is unimperative.
03:36Reforms are still needed both ways, by the way, not just the Western Balkans, but also within the European Union
03:41to get this done.
03:42And, of course, there has been many ideas floated.
03:45Now, thinking outside the box, in many ways, still continuing to say that this is a merit-based process.
03:50It is based on heavy reforms.
03:52But also, as you know, multiple suggestions that perhaps you could look into memberships that go step by step.
03:58New countries that could join without the full rights, perhaps joining without a veto.
04:03The idea put forward by the German Chancellor, who will be here alongside the French President of Association with the
04:10European Union.
04:11And the capitals, of course, also matter because they will have the final say.
04:14This has to be approved unanimously.
04:17But, as I say, going into the summit, the message very much from the European institution is there is real
04:22momentum.
04:23Now is the time to push forward and move forward.
04:26There is now an imperative to bring these countries closer to the Union.
04:30They cannot stay stuck in limbo.
04:31But, as I mentioned, this is a complex scenario.
04:34And this region is very diverse in its aspirations, but also the many challenges.
04:40Indeed, Maria.
04:41And just while you're there, there have been some developments overnight.
04:43Peter Mayer, the Hungarian Prime Minister, announcing a deal on minorities between Hungary and Ukraine.
04:49Is Budapest about to lift its veto?
04:53Well, major news overnight, as you say, because the Hungarian Prime Minister, Petra Magyar, has announced what he claims to
05:00be is a comprehensive deal between the Ukrainians and the Hungarians when it comes to the linguistical rights.
05:08He's talking about the educational rights, the political and cultural rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine.
05:14He says that because Ukraine has now agreed to implement some of these changes legally, Hungary will be in a
05:20position to lift its veto, now going on for more than three years, for formal negotiations for Ukraine to join
05:28the bloc to finally begin.
05:29This is a politically charged issue for both Hungary and Ukraine.
05:34For the Hungarians, we should note, for our European viewers, this is seen as a matter of protecting Hungarians in
05:40Ukraine.
05:41For the Hungarian Prime Minister, it was very much about a domestic message that he is defending the rights of
05:47the ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine.
05:49And that was very much what Petra Magyar put out in a social media post yesterday, saying, claiming that he
05:55has accomplished now more in three weeks than Viktor Orban ever did in 10 years.
06:00That referring to this deal with the Ukrainians, but also the package that was agreed with the European institutions last
06:06week, unblocking more than 60 billion euros in funding for the country.
06:10This also matters because it will have a knock-on effect on Moldova.
06:14Moldova got stuck in this limbo between Hungary and Ukraine.
06:18They will now push through two European sources telling Euronews last night that this is a win-win for everyone.
06:24It will be a win for Hungary. It will be a win for Ukraine.
06:28They speak of not just concessions on behalf of the Ukrainians.
06:31And they also say that this would point to a return of unanimity of 27 and the drop of constant
06:37vetoes by Hungary.
06:38The summit that will be taking place in mid-June is now being perceived and portrayed as a celebration of
06:44what European sources told us will reflect of a new European unity.
06:48And just briefly, Maria, if I may, how has Ukraine reacted?
06:54Well, look, Maeve, that is a fundamental question because at this hour, at this point, we do not know what
06:59is in this deal.
07:00We have not heard from the Ukrainian president himself, Volodymyr Zelensky, but we did hear just this morning over the
07:06past 30 minutes from the Ukrainian foreign minister who is speaking of gratitude, gratitude when it comes to the European
07:13Union,
07:13but also signaling a new chapter in relations when it comes to Hungary.
07:18The prime minister of Ukraine also saying that this puts the country now one step closer to joining the European
07:24Union.
07:24But we should make one thing very clear, and this is extremely important, of course, for our viewers in Euronews
07:29this morning.
07:30This does not signal and does not mean that Ukraine will join overnight or that the path to membership will
07:36be easy.
07:36In fact, it will be very difficult, certainly in the context of the war with Russia and this potential peace
07:41settlement that may come up,
07:43but also because the Hungarians are indicating they will lift this veto, and that is significant.
07:48But Peter Mader also took a hard line yesterday saying that he does not believe and does not support an
07:54accelerated membership and fast track for Ukraine.
07:57We know that is a position that many of the big member states also share, but he also indicated,
08:01that even in the case, even if Ukraine manages to complete this very difficult and at times torturous path towards
08:07reform,
08:08he will put this matter to a referendum before the Hungarian people.
08:12Okay, Maria, today we're putting it all in context for us there, live from Mancinegro.
08:15Thank you so much for joining us.
08:17And we'll be back again tomorrow with Maria with her exclusive interview with the EU Council President, Antonio Costa.
08:22But Ukraine, staying in Ukraine, Russia has fired a massive drone and missile attack towards the country,
08:28killing 22 people this Wednesday.
08:30It comes in response to Ukraine targeting the city of St. Petersburg,
08:34as President Putin was hosting his annual economic forum, a bit like the Russian Davos.
08:39Ukrainian drones also struck energy and military sites in the Russian port city.
08:43This all as the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte was making his surprise trip to Kiev.
08:48For more on all this, I'm joined here on set by our Ukraine correspondent, that is, of course, Sasha Bakalina.
08:53Good morning, Sasha. Just tell us, what was the purpose of Mark Rutte's surprise visit?
08:57First and foremost, to discuss the insufficient supplies of anti-ballistic air defense for Ukraine.
09:04Russia knows very well that this, indeed, is one of those very rare gaps in Ukraine's air defense,
09:10because this is where Ukraine, of course, relies on the U.S.
09:13Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia has the capacity to produce 120 ballistic missiles per month.
09:19Now, just to compare, the U.S. producers have the capacity to make 60, 65 Pac-3 missiles for Patriot
09:27systems.
09:28This is just half of what Russia can actually produce and launch at Ukraine.
09:33And this, of course, causes a very long waiting time for anybody applying for those missiles.
09:38Let's take a listen to what Volodymyr Zelensky had to say.
09:44The waiting list for Pac-2, Pac-3, and certainly for the Patriot systems, is measured in years.
09:52And so, to be honest, we wouldn't be able to receive this new delivery until around 2030.
09:58That didn't sit well with me, and it didn't sit well with our team.
10:02We discussed what alternatives we could find.
10:05This involves an agreement with certain countries to swap places in the queue where one country could give us its
10:12spot,
10:12and we could take that spot and receive the systems earlier.
10:20Giving Kyiv's response and also Kyiv's development of homemade weapons.
10:24Zelenskyy also confirmed that Kyiv is once again asking the U.S. to provide Ukraine with the license to produce
10:31those anti-ballistic defense missiles.
10:34And Sasha, Mark, with his visit, came yesterday just as Ukrainian forces were striking the oil refinery in St. Petersburg,
10:40just as delegates were arriving for Vladimir Putin's economic forum.
10:42Yeah, indeed. That was a clear demonstration also of Ukraine's long-range striking capabilities,
10:48because that oil terminal is over 1,000 kilometers away from Ukraine's border.
10:54And Ukraine specifically said that, Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted that this strike is justified also,
10:58because Kyiv is targeting military and energy, specifically oil facilities.
11:04But also, this proves big progress.
11:07This is something that was recognized by the Secretary-General of NATO.
11:10Let's take a listen.
11:12Ukraine is now so successful that Putin is only able to organize a 9th of May parade
11:18with an official presidential decree by this president.
11:22So this is basically how far you got.
11:25And I think for two hours you allowed him to do it,
11:28and it would then end it in one hour and 55 minutes.
11:30So he didn't take a risk.
11:32Mark Rutte, there, speaking from Kyiv.
11:34And before that, of course, our Sasha Vakilina.
11:35Thank you so much for that update.
11:37But now, moving on, after another round of negotiations,
11:41Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire contingent on a cessation of Hezbollah fire
11:46and the removal of Hezbollah operatives from southern Lebanon.
11:51It comes as Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Arachi,
11:54says the US-Israel war with Iran will only end when it also ends in Lebanon.
11:59For the view from Beirut, we're joined now by Ghassan Salami,
12:02a huge academic and political figure in Lebanon,
12:05currently serving as the Minister of Culture.
12:08Good morning, Minister.
12:08Thank you so much for joining us here this morning.
12:11So first question, the obvious one.
12:12What is your reaction to this agreement?
12:14Is it a genuine breakthrough or just another temporary pause in the fighting?
12:19We hope it's genuine.
12:20We had a ceasefire already on April the 16th that was not implemented.
12:27So now the proof of the genuine nature of this new agreement is in its implementation.
12:35And therefore, the agreement is still fresh, a few hours old.
12:40So it's probably too early to decide how serious it is.
12:44But we certainly take it seriously.
12:47And that's the problem.
12:48The previous ceasefire did not work, with many calling it just an armed truce.
12:53It was not even a truce.
12:55I mean, hundreds of people have been killed during the six weeks,
13:00the six past weeks after the announcement of the latest or penultimate ceasefire agreement.
13:09This new one has a direct commitment by the mediator, that is the United States.
13:16And it has a number of points that need to be implemented on the ground.
13:22We need also to have the two governments implementing it, each on its side.
13:28We are trying, we will be trying to implement our side of the agreement.
13:33And we hope that on the other side, where we hear some ministers in the Israeli cabinet already
13:40refusing the agreement, which is not very helpful.
13:47And we need also to have a common interpretation of the various paragraphs in the agreement.
13:54And I hope that some of the sort of far-fetched interpretations I heard this morning from the Israeli Prime
14:02Minister
14:03and the Minister of Defence are only for public consumption, not their real position.
14:10And of course, there's tension, isn't there, between President Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu,
14:15and then Lebanon.
14:16You're stuck right in the middle.
14:18We are, we are, but without American pressure, we are not expecting the Israeli government to move forward
14:27towards such agreement.
14:29So it is under American sustained pressure that we can expect a real implementation this time.
14:39And will Hezbollah comply with the terms, do you think?
14:42They have been silent so far, but we expect them to express their position during the day.
14:50Because it's true that the agreement calls for ceasefire on both sides,
14:55and for the withdrawal of Hezbollah fighters from south of the Netanyahu.
15:01We are expecting their reaction during the day.
15:04And just describe the damage done so far by Israel.
15:07The last time we spoke here on Europe Today, you described it as an incursion.
15:13That's how they put it, but this incursion has been bloody.
15:18And as Minister of Culture, I should say that it also destroyed 60 villages entirely, flattened out.
15:29And a number of very important heritage positions have been also hit,
15:37including the Chateau du Bouffour, to which Lebanese are very attached.
15:42Not to mention the Shama position, which is a very important religious position in south Lebanon.
15:54So we hope that this time implementation will be serious.
15:58We are going to implement the government side of the agreement.
16:06We hope that we have a clear answer from Hezbollah during the day.
16:11And we hope that the Israelis don't over-interpret what's in it in a way that becomes unacceptable to us.
16:20Okay. Minister Ghassan Salami, thank you so much for joining us here this morning on Europe Today Live on Euronews.
16:26But now, moving on.
16:27Berlin is licking its wounds after failing to secure a rotating spot on the UN Security Council.
16:34For more on this big blow for Berlin, we're joined by our very own Stefan Krobey,
16:38who despite his German accent, or his American accent, excuse me, is actually German.
16:42You've got a wonderfully fluent English accent.
16:45Stefan, just tell us, you know, you are German, as I said.
16:47How are Germans reacting to this news?
16:49I have to admit, Maeve, for Germany, this one hurts, right?
16:54Germany failing to win a seat on the Security Council is not just a diplomatic, an obscure diplomatic blow.
17:02For Germans, it feels like something bigger.
17:05It's a reality check.
17:07For years, Germans have told themselves that the country is one of the world's indispensable nations.
17:14It's Europe's economic engine.
17:16It's a champion of international cooperation.
17:18A country others look to for leadership.
17:22Yet, when the votes were counted at the UN, the world looked elsewhere.
17:26And perhaps Germans shouldn't be surprised.
17:29For too long, Germany assumed that its economic power would automatically translate into political influence.
17:36Germans believe that because they paid the bills, because they supported international institutions,
17:42and because they praised multilateralism, other countries would naturally back them.
17:48Yet, clearly, many do not.
17:50So, the uncomfortable truth is that Germany's international standing in the world may not be what Germans think it is.
17:58Of course, Germany remains a powerful country.
18:01One vote at the UN will not change that.
18:04But symbols matter in diplomacy.
18:06And this symbol, Maeve, was painful.
18:09It was painful.
18:10And also for Friedrich Merz, you know, the chancellor.
18:13Well, look, for Friedrich Merz, the vote was absolutely embarrassing.
18:17Merz has made rebuilding Germany's international standing a central theme of his chancellorship.
18:23After years of criticism that Germany is hesitant, inward-looking, he has presented himself as a leader willing to put
18:31Germany at the center of world affairs.
18:34Now, losing such an important international vote is exactly that kind of setback opponents can point to as evidence that
18:44his strategy is not delivering any results.
18:47So, this failure at the UN only further weakens his domestic position in Berlin, which is already fragile, and might
18:57fuel attempts within his own Christian Democratic Party, Maeve, to get rid of him.
19:02Okay.
19:02Stefan Krobey, thank you so much for that update there.
19:05And thank you so much for tuning in to us this morning on Europe Today.
19:09Any questions or comments or points on any of the stories we're covering, you can contact the team here at
19:14europetoday at euronews.com.
19:16That is our email address.
19:18You can also listen to Europe Today as a podcast or read it as a newsletter.
19:22Thanks so much for tuning in.
19:23Stay with us here on Europe News.
19:56We'll see you next time.
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