Vice-President Anna Magyar, a member of the Csongrád-Csanád County, together with its President László Gémes, hosted a high-level study visit in Szeged focusing on addressing benefits and challenges of enlargement for EU and candidate countries' cities and regions. 

Following the European Commission's Communication on pre-enlargement reforms and policy reviews, which provides the roadmap for the way forward on the enlargement of the EU, the study visit is a means for the Committee of the Regions to continue highlighting the key role that local and regional authorities have in this process.

"The enlargement process will only be successful if local & regional authorities are fully part of this process and our experience is the most effective way to help candidate countries prepare for implementing the EU acquis and ensuring that necessary reforms are deeply rooted" – stated Ms Magyar when addressing participants.

The study visit gave members of the CoR CIVEX commission a platform to exchange their perspective from previous EU enlargements and learn from the experience of Hungarian local authorities. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the European Parliament, Hungarian ministries of Foreign Affairs, and EU Affairs, local politicians from neighbouring Serbia, and North Macedonia, as well as professors from the local University of Szeged.