BUDAPEST, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Hungary's Oliver Varhelyi will take the European Union (EU) Enlargement and Neighborhood portfolio in Ursula von der Leyen's new Commission, which is expected to take office on Dec. 1, the Hungarian government informed here on Tuesday.

"The government welcomes that the EP's foreign affairs committee has supported Varhelyi's appointment as European commissioner," the government said in a statement published on its website.

"Voting in the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on Monday, deputies have approved Oliver Varhelyi to the incoming von der Leyen Commission," the statement noted.

"As a country situated on the eastern and southern frontier of the European Union, enlargement plays an important role for Hungary and we believe that it's in the whole EU's interest that the accession processes of our partner states in the Western Balkans go as smoothly as possible," read the statement.

Commenting on his approval by the Foreign Affairs Committee, Varhelyi tweeted: "What an honor to become part of team Ursula von der Leyen! For stronger Europe together!"

The new European Commission is expected to take office on Dec. 1 following a European Parliament plenary vote on the entire von der Leyen Commission. Enditem

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