Hungarian PM says Ukraine and Hungary have reached agreement on minority issues

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has said his country has reached a "comprehensive agreement" with Ukraine on the rights of the ethnic Hungarian minority in Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda, citing Facebook

Details: On 3 June, Magyar said his government had achieved "in three weeks" what former Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán and his team "were unable to do in 10 years".

Quote: "We have reached a comprehensive agreement with Ukraine on expanding the language, educational, cultural and political rights of the 100,000-strong Hungarian minority."

More details: Magyar said the agreement is the result of several weeks of intensive expert-level talks between Hungary and Ukraine in which churches and political organisations representing the Hungarian community in Zakarpattia were also involved.

Quote: "I am delighted to be able to announce on the eve of National Unity Day that the Ukrainian government has undertaken to incorporate the agreed measures into its legislation in the near future, thereby granting our compatriots in Transcarpathia much broader educational, cultural, language and political rights than they have had up to now."

More details: Magyar said Ukraine's commitments "will also be reflected in its action plan regarding the European Union".

Quote: "If this happens, the Hungarian government will support the opening of the first negotiating cluster for Ukraine's accession."

Background:

• It was reported earlier that Magyar said he would only unblock the opening of negotiating clusters for Ukraine if Kyiv guaranteed the implementation of Hungary's 11 demands on minorities.
• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after meeting Magyar in Brussels that the opening of clusters for Ukraine would be discussed at a European Council meeting on 18-19 June.

Read more about what's happening in talks with the EU on Ukraine's future membership: Who is the new Hungary? Why Ukraine's EU accession talks are still stalling and what comes next

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