Hungary blocks opening of remaining negotiating clusters for Ukraine and Moldova – Politico
Hungary has delayed a key procedural step required to open the remaining negotiating clusters in Ukraine and Moldova's EU accession talks.
Source: two unnamed EU diplomats speaking to Politico, as reported by European Pravda
Details: Following the opening of the first cluster, Ukraine and Moldova said their goal was for the remaining chapters to be opened by mid-July.
That timeline is now at risk after Hungary objected on 23 June to sending a letter to the European Council and the European Commission on behalf of the EU's 27 members. The letter sets out the EU member states' joint position on opening negotiating chapters for Ukraine and Moldova.
The two diplomats said Budapest was the only capital to oppose the initiative, which requires unanimous approval from all 27 member states. The proposal will be discussed again next week.
The move is in line with Prime Minister Péter Magyar's cautious stance on EU membership for Ukraine.
Background:
- Although Magyar did not oppose the opening of the first cluster for Ukraine, his government succeeded in having wording on clusters for Kyiv being opened "as soon as possible" removed from the written conclusions of a meeting of EU leaders held in Brussels last week.
- Magyar explained that this could send "the wrong signal" to the Western Balkan countries working towards EU accession.
- Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hinted that Ukraine and Moldova are now on separate paths to EU accession following the opening of the first cluster.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he hopes that the remaining five clusters in Ukraine's EU accession negotiations will be opened in the coming weeks.
Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon to help us keep reporting!