BELGRADE, Serbia

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Friday that the EU should have allowed countries in the Western Balkans to join the bloc "long ago."

"The Western Balkans deserve much more than they have received from Brussels so far. I want to say that these countries should have become EU members long ago," Orban said in a news conference in North Macedonia's capital, Skopje, where he met his counterpart, Hristijan Mickoski.

Orban emphasized the importance of keeping Western Balkan countries’ EU membership on the agenda.

"North Macedonia has been a candidate for EU membership together with Croatia since 2005.

"Since then, Croatia has become an EU member, but negotiations with North Macedonia have not yet started. This is a huge mistake for the EU, and I can describe it as a historic mistake," said Orban.

He said he suggested to Mickoski that Hungary could mediate a dispute between North Macedonia and Bulgaria, provided both are willing.

Bulgaria has been obstructing North Macedonia’s EU accession efforts, accusing it of disregarding historical and cultural ties. Sofia’s demands include the recognition that the Macedonian language is derived from Bulgarian and the acknowledgment of a Bulgarian minority in North Macedonia.

Mickoski, in turn, reaffirmed North Macedonia's commitment to advancing its EU membership process and resolving ongoing issues.

"I hope that one day, we can be a part of that family and table," said Mickoski.

Media reports indicate that due to Bulgaria’s pressure, the EU membership processes for North Macedonia and Albania have been separated. The first chapter of Albania's EU accession negotiations is set to open Oct. 15.