Hungary is once again acting as a European country, pursuing its national interests while working within the framework of its alliances, Foreign Minister Anita Orbán said on Monday ahead of a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Luxembourg.
Speaking to reporters upon arrival, the minister described the outcome of Hungary’s April elections as a return to Europe, arguing that voters had clearly expressed their desire for the country to remain firmly anchored within the European community.
According to Orbán, the election result marked the beginning of a new chapter for Hungary, one defined by a renewed commitment to contributing to Europe’s shared future.
Addressing relations with Ukraine, the foreign minister said that weeks of intensive negotiations had resulted in a bilateral agreement with Kyiv covering the rights of the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia. The deal includes provisions related to education, public administration, cultural rights and the use of national symbols.
She highlighted as a major achievement that the agreement has now been incorporated into the European Union’s minority rights action plan for Ukraine, giving it significance beyond the bilateral relationship.
Orbán noted that the opening of the first accession cluster in Ukraine’s EU membership process was scheduled for Monday. The chapter focuses on fundamental rights, democracy and the rule of law, and incorporates the commitments contained in the Hungarian–Ukrainian agreement.
She added that the arrangement includes an intermediate benchmark mechanism, under which progress in the first accession cluster would automatically be halted if Ukraine fails to meet its obligations under the agreement.
The foreign minister said Hungary had successfully ensured that the commitments are now embedded not only in bilateral relations but also within the broader framework of European integration, creating additional mechanisms for monitoring and enforcement.
‘Hungary considers the implementation of this agreement to be a fundamental condition for Ukraine’s European integration process,’ she said.
Orbán stressed that Hungary supports a performance-based accession process that follows the EU’s existing enlargement methodology, rejecting any alternative approach that would bypass established requirements.
She also reiterated Hungary’s support for further EU enlargement in the Western Balkans, describing Montenegro as the frontrunner among candidate countries. According to the minister, Montenegro’s progress demonstrates that sustained reforms and political commitment can deliver tangible results and serve as an example for the wider region.
The foreign minister further confirmed Hungary’s support for Moldova’s ongoing accession process.
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