EU Opens Door to Ukraine and Moldova with First Accession Talks

The European Union is poised to commence formal accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, marking a significant milestone in their pursuit of membership. The green light for these talks was given by member states in Brussels, following Hungary's decision to lift its previous veto.

The breakthrough came after Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar announced a "historic agreement" with Ukraine concerning the rights of the Hungarian minority residing in the country. This accord addresses long-standing disagreements between Budapest and Kyiv, particularly regarding linguistic, educational, cultural, and political rights for Hungarians in Ukraine.

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This represents a significant milestone on the path to European integration and sends a strong message of unity and determination from the EU.

Previously, Hungary, under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, had cited the treatment of the Hungarian minority as a key reason for blocking EU support for Kyiv and hindering its accession process. The resolution of this issue has paved the way for the EU to move forward with opening the first round of negotiations.

The Cypriot presidency of the Council of the EU described the decision as a "significant milestone on the path to European integration" and a "strong message of unity and determination from the EU." Both Ukraine and Moldova are now set to embark on the complex and lengthy process of aligning their laws and institutions with EU standards.

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We have reached a comprehensive agreement with Ukraine on the expansion of linguistic, educational, cultural, and political rights of the Hungarian minority residing in Ukraine.