Igrutinovic: Revocation of Hungary's recognition of Kosovo unlikely but not entirely ruled out

Research associate at the Institute for European Studies, Milan Igrutinovic, says for Kosovo Online that the possibility of Hungary revoking its recognition of Kosovo is probably not entirely ruled out, but also that it is not particularly likely. He adds that no one in Europe has changed their stance on Kosovo in the past fifteen years.

The relations between Serbia and Hungary are considered brotherly and friendly. Last month, Hungary was the only country to vote against upgrading Kosovo's status from observer to associate member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. According to Igrutinovic, the question of revoking Kosovo's recognition would be a matter of tactics for Hungary.

"Just as their relationship with Serbia is a matter of their broader view of relations with Brussels. They are building their local alliances with governments where there is party affinity, and this should always be kept in mind. I don't see much room for such a decision, but in some combinatorial scenarios of relations after the establishment of the new European Commission and the allocation of commissioner positions, it is not entirely impossible. However, it doesn't seem like a practical path for our diplomacy," Igrutinovic said.

If Hungary were to revoke its recognition, he added, it would be a symbolic defeat for Brussels, but it would not stop the main pressures or the main expectations of the EU from Serbia.

"All the demands that exist today would still stand before us from partners who are economically stronger and more significant, such as Germany and Italy, the two most economically important countries in the EU for us. The expectations of the entire community towards us would remain unchanged," he said.

The main political currents within the EU, as Igrutinovic says, are to continue pressuring Serbia to gradually extract an institutional exit from Kosovo, as well as "small recognitions and the overall enhancement of Kosovo's sovereignty and political profile."