Hungary again blocks Ukraine’s path toward EU accession

Hungary has again blocked progress on Ukraine’s path toward European Union membership, refusing to approve the opening of negotiating clusters 2 and 3.

The decision came at the first meeting after the summer break of the EU Council working group responsible for enlargement and candidate countries. A source quoted by Ukrainska Pravda said, “Everything remains unchanged.”

As at the group’s final meeting before the break in July, Hungary agreed only to approve the screening results for Moldova’s cluster 3. Most EU members oppose separating Ukraine and Moldova in their movement toward membership. Ireland, which currently holds the Council presidency, is leading that position.

Hungary’s representative said Budapest was prepared to move ahead only if Ukraine took steps to fulfill a bilateral agreement on protecting the rights of the Hungarian minority. Until then, the representative said, there would be no progress on opening the clusters.

The working group’s next meeting is scheduled for the following day, but neither Ukraine nor Moldova appears on its agenda.

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Everything remains unchanged.