Hungarian PM doubts remaining clusters for Ukraine can be opened urgently

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

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

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

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

Magyar expressed confidence that rapid progress along the negotiating track with Ukraine "will 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, name it by name.

The Hungarian prime minister also did not indicate his position on whether Hungary would vote against 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 EU Council on 17 June began technical preparations for opening clusters 2-6 for Ukraine and Moldova.

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