Mr Olivér Várhelyi is the Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement. His main responsibilities, among others, are: strengthening relations with the EU’s neighbouring countries and ensuring a credible European Union perspective for the Western Balkans, including progressing on the accession process, such as through merit-based country assessments. Ahead of his current role he was the Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the EU, as well as Deputy Permanent Representative of Hungary to the EU. He was previously Head of Unit responsible for Industrial Property Rights, at the Directorate-General for Internal Market and Services, at the European Commission, and Head of the European Union Law Department, at the Ministry of Justice in Hungary.