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Olivér Várhelyi

COMMISSIONER (2019-2024)  

Olivér Várhelyi
Neighbourhood and Enlargement

Email: cab-varhelyi-contactatec [dot] europa [dot] eu (cab-varhelyi-contact[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)

Address: Rue de la Loi / Wetstraat 200, 1049 Brussels, Belgium

Press contact

Responsibilities

  • Strengthening relations with the EU’s neighbouring countries.
  • Ensuring a credible European Union perspective for the Western Balkans, including progressing on the accession process, such as through merit-based country assessments.
  • Supporting proposals on opening enlargement negotiations with the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Albania.
  • Speeding up structural and institutional reforms in the Western Balkans, with a strong focus on the rule of law, economic development and public administration reforms. 
  • Promoting good neighbourly relations and the resolution of bilateral disputes within the Western Balkans region.
  • Working closely with Turkey as a key EU partner and addressing common challenges, together with the High Representative/Vice-President.
  • Strengthening relations with the Eastern Partnership countries and introducing new long-term policy objectives for the Eastern Partnership.
  • Speeding up implementation of the Association Agreements and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, making full use of the Support Group for Ukraine.
  • Reviewing priorities and Association Agendas with each partner, setting clear objectives for reforms and economic development.
  • Promoting good governance, environmental protection, the fight against corruption, the rule of law and respecting the role of independent media and civil society.
  • Exploring a comprehensive partnership to manage effective migration and support economic growth and jobs
  • Optimising EU financial instruments, including through innovative approaches to financial support and public–private partnerships.
  • Ensuring coordination of relations with the European Economic Area, in consultation with the High Representative/Vice-President.
  • Representing the Commission in the EU Foreign Affairs Council and coordinating the presence of other Members of the College as required. 

Mission letter

1 DECEMBER 2019
President von der Leyen's mission letter to Olivér Várhelyi
English
(625.02 KB - PDF)
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European Parliament hearings

1 DECEMBER 2019
Olivér Várhelyi's answers to the European Parliament questionnaire
English
(398.05 KB - PDF)
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General publications23 March 2023
Additional questionnaire

Team

Olivér Várhelyi's team supports him in his daily work

My team

Media Gallery

Calendar

Mr Olivér Várhelyi receives Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, H.E Mr Mihai Popșoi

Mr Olivér Várhelyi receives German Federal Government Special Representative for the Countries of the Western Balkans, Mr Manuel Sarrazin

Transparency

As part of the Commission’s commitment to transparency, Commissioners and their members of Cabinet publish information on meetings held with organisations or self-employed individuals.

In line with the Commission's Code of Conduct for Members of the Commission, each Commissioner publishes a Declaration of Interests.

signed, authentic version is published at the bottom of this page.

machine-readable version of all Declarations is also published. This is in line with the requirements of the Code of Conduct.

The Declarations of Interests follow the requirements set out in Article 3 and in Annex 1 of the new Code of Conduct for Commissioners.

Biography

  1. 2019 - present
    Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement/Member of the European Commission
  2. 2015 - 2019
    Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the EU
  3. 2011-2015
    Deputy Permanent Representative of Hungary to the EU
  4. 2008-2011
    Head of Unit on Industrial Property Rights, Directorate-General for Internal Market and Services, European Commission
  5. 2006-2008
    Head of the European Union Law Department, Ministry of Justice, Hungary
  6. 1998-2001
    Head of Cabinet, Head of the Legal Unit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cabinet of the Deputy Head of the State Secretary for Integration, Hungary
1 DECEMBER 2019
Olivér Várhelyi's biography
English
(378.98 KB - PDF)
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Declaration of interests

11 JANUARY 2023
Declaration of interests - Olivér Várhelyi
English
(435.62 KB - PDF)
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