Hungary Blocks EU Accession Talks for Ukraine and Moldova

Hungary has significantly stalled the European Union accession process for both Ukraine and Moldova by blocking a key procedural step. European diplomats revealed that Hungary opposed the transmission of a joint letter to the European Council and Commission, a document essential for establishing the member states' unified stance on the negotiations.

While Ukraine and Moldova made a notable advance on June 15 by unanimously opening the first set of negotiation chapters, their accession paths are intertwined. The progress of one is now contingent on the other, a situation that complicates their aspirations to finalize all six chapter groups by mid-July, as Kyiv had hoped.

This obstruction by Hungary is consistent with reservations previously voiced by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán regarding the speed of Ukraine's integration into the EU. Although Hungary did not oppose the initial opening of negotiation chapters, its government had previously requested the removal of the phrase "as soon as possible" from the summit conclusions. Orbán argued that opening all negotiation groups simultaneously sends the wrong signal to Western Balkan countries that have been engaged in accession efforts for years.

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There are six groups of chapters in total and we do not think that opening all of them at once is a good idea. On the one hand, because the first one has only just been opened, and on the other hand, because it would send the wrong message to the countries of the Western Balkans – Serbia, Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia – who have been working for years for accession to the European Union.