Espreso. Global

EU explores ways to start Ukraine accession talks despite Hungary’s objections

13 May, 2025 Tuesday
17:19

The European Union is looking for ways to stop Hungary from blocking the start of accession talks with Ukraine, according to several people familiar with the discussions

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Bloomberg reported that during a recent closed-door meeting, some member states urged the European Commission to identify possible options for opening the first chapter of negotiations with Kyiv, despite objections from Budapest over the treatment of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia region, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

According to those familiar with the matter, officials suspect Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is preparing to derail the process by holding a so-called “national consultation” on Ukraine’s EU membership — despite having lifted his country’s veto on the talks last December after Brussels unfroze €10 billion in blocked EU funds.

“There is only so much member states can take in terms of wilful abuse of the veto,” Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin told Euronews on Monday. “We have seen it play out in Ukraine. There are a number of instruments that we can use and we shouldn’t be afraid to use them.”

While unanimity among member states is legally required to begin and conclude accession negotiations, it is not necessarily needed to open or close individual chapters, the people noted.

Ukraine’s EU candidacy gained momentum following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. While the EU has ruled out fast-tracking Ukraine’s accession, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has consistently praised Kyiv’s reform efforts despite the ongoing war.

The renewed push from Brussels comes as former U.S. President Donald Trump increases his efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. While Washington has historically opposed Ukraine joining NATO, it has supported Ukraine’s aspirations for EU membership.

With security concerns reshaping the continent’s political agenda, the EU has ramped up its enlargement drive, hoping that more member states can help stabilize the region. According to insiders, the European Commission has notified national governments of its plan to submit an initial report to the European Council on opening accession talks with both Ukraine and Moldova.

If Hungary does not object, EU leaders could approve discussions on Ukraine’s reform “clusters” in June, sources said.

Minority Dispute

Prime Minister Orban has long maintained close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has echoed many of Moscow’s talking points on the war in Ukraine. He argues that Russia poses no real military threat to the EU and continues to resist deeper European involvement in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Budapest’s main point of contention remains the rights of ethnic Hungarians in western Ukraine. While Ukraine has passed minority rights legislation to address Hungary’s concerns, Orban’s government insists that not all commitments have been fulfilled.

However, a European Commission spokesperson said Kyiv had met all the steps outlined in the EU’s 2022 assessment and welcomed its action plan for minority protections — a key requirement for EU accession.

Tensions escalated after Ukraine accused Hungary of operating an espionage network in Zakarpattia, prompting a suspension of bilateral talks on minority issues. Hungary has denied the allegations.

During the closed-door EU meeting, some envoys expressed alarm over Orban’s repeated negative remarks about Ukraine’s EU candidacy, insiders said. The Hungarian leader has made opposition to Ukraine’s membership a key message ahead of elections next year.

Orban claims that Ukraine joining the EU would “ruin” Hungary’s economy. However, domestic opinion remains divided.

EU officials have voiced concerns over Orban’s upcoming “national consultation” — a mechanism often accompanied by aggressive pro-government messaging and seen as a tool for manufacturing support for his policies.

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