Hungarians and Slovakians in Ukraine urge Orban, Fico and Michel to support start of EU accession talks

Dmytro Tuzhanskyi, director of the Institute for Central European Strategy, wrote about this on Facebook.

The text of the appeal states that over the past year, Ukraine has demonstrated significant progress in implementing the European Commission's recommendations on ensuring the rights of national minorities. And the new draft law adopted by the Ukrainian parliament significantly reflects the interests of national minorities and enjoys full support.

At the same time, the authors express the hope that the provisions of this law "will be implemented in the normative documents of Ukrainian legislation, taking into account all the proposals submitted by the public organizations of Transcarpathian Hungarians."

"We strongly urge all EU leaders to continue to support Ukraine on its European integration path. This progress in securing democracy and minority rights is an integral part of the Copenhagen criteria for membership, and we believe that Ukraine deserves to be supported in its efforts in this direction," the statement reads.

The authors emphasize that even during the full-scale invasion of Russia, Ukraine continues to implement the necessary reforms and remains committed to its European integration values.

Among the signatories of the statement are: Zoltan Babyak, Head of Berehove City Territorial Community, Chairman of Berehovo District Council Carlo Rezesh, Chairman of the Democratic Union of Hungarians of Ukraine (UMDU) Laszlo Zubanych, Chairman of the Foundation for Ukrainian-Hungarian Regional Youth Development Yosyp Rezesh, deputy of the Zakarpattia Regional Council Judit Petei.

Slovaks of Transcarpathia appealed to Fico and Michel

Transcarpathian Regional Military Administration reported that representatives of the Slovak national community of Transcarpathia also published an open appeal to the President of the European Council Charles Michel and the Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico.

"They asked to support the decision to open negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the EU during a meeting of the European Council to be held on December 14-15, 2023," the statement reads.

In addition, Ukrainian Slovaks urged all leaders of the European Union member states to continue to support Ukraine on its path to European integration.

"The appeal was published by the head of the Transcarpathian Regional Cultural and Educational Society of Slovak Women Dovira (Trust) Jana Dudash-Ryzhak and the head of the Society of Slovak Intellectuals of Transcarpathia public organisation Ernest Horvat," the Administration noted.

• The day before, the Hungarian prime minister said that negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU were not in Hungary's interests and should not be put on the agenda. Michel reacted.
• On December 4, he sent a letter to the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, asking him not to start negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU.