Hungarian PM doubts remaining EU accession negotiating clusters for Ukraine can be opened urgently

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has expressed doubts on his part and on the part of other states regarding the possibility of urgently opening the remaining EU accession negotiating clusters with Ukraine.

Source: remarks by Magyar to journalists ahead of the opening of the European Council meeting, as reported by European Pravda's correspondent in Brussels

Details: Magyar said he was satisfied with the European Council's decision to open the first cluster with Ukraine. However, he has doubts about the way forward along the negotiating track.

"We have questions, and not only us, about whether immediately after opening the first cluster we should begin negotiations on the remaining clusters without delay. This idea is very controversial, frankly speaking, and among other states as well," he said.

Magyar expressed his conviction that rapid progress along the negotiating track with Ukraine "would be a very bad sign for the Western Balkans states". Of the Balkan states currently conducting accession negotiations, only Serbia has not opened all negotiating chapters. Magyar did not, however, mention it by name.

The Hungarian prime minister also did not indicate his position on whether Hungary would oppose this if the matter were put to a vote, and made no demands or conditions directed at Ukraine, expressing scepticism solely on procedural grounds.

"In the EU there are those who want to open all clusters immediately; there are those who want to open only two clusters, and I would remind you that we have only just opened the first cluster and the ink is not yet dry," he said.

• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expects the remaining five clusters to be opened within the coming weeks as part of Ukraine's EU accession negotiation process.
• The Council of the EU began technical preparations on 17 June for opening clusters two to six for Ukraine and Moldova.

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