EU struggles to reach consensus on Hungary — Ukrainian MP

Ukrainian MP Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Chair of the Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU, commented to Espreso on Hungary’s obstruction of Ukraine’s EU integration.

She pointed out that Hungary is actively blocking Ukraine’s path to the EU, citing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s recent statement about doing everything to stop Ukraine’s progress toward EU membership.

“The responsibility for accelerating this process lies with the EU, not in the bilateral relationship between Ukraine and Hungary,” Klympush-Tsintsadze said. “Ukraine has shown a strong willingness to resolve any issues, but Hungary’s manipulations should be addressed by EU member states. The tools are there.”

She emphasized the importance of restoring the momentum for EU enlargement, which Hungary is currently stalling.

Klympush-Tsintsadze reassured that efforts are being made to open negotiation clusters as soon as possible. “Opening each cluster, especially the foundational ones, will allow the EU to address issues within Ukraine that need correction,” she explained. “This is in Ukraine’s and the EU’s best interest.”

She also noted that while there’s no consensus on how to stop Hungary’s bad-faith actions, options like using Article 7 of the EU Treaty, which addresses violations of the rule of law and media freedom, or stripping Hungary of its voting rights, are being considered.

“We are getting closer to the point where EU member states may need to take these measures against Hungary,” Klympush-Tsintsadze concluded.

• On May 8, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone call with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.