A decision expected to accelerate negotiations suddenly stalled, catching officials off guard. The delay introduces new uncertainty into an already complex accession process.
Hungary has postponed an important procedural step necessary to advance Ukraine’s and Moldova’s applications for accession to the European Union. This was reported by two EU diplomats in Brussels.
This refers to a decision that could have accelerated further consideration of both countries’ candidacies within the negotiation process. Despite earlier progress, the current delay calls into question the pace of integration.
Previous stage of negotiations
On June 15, EU countries unanimously agreed to open the first negotiation cluster for Ukraine and Moldova. This became an important step toward membership, as it formalized the start of talks in key areas.
Previously, this process had been blocked for years due to the position of Hungary’s former prime minister Viktor Orbán, who opposed Ukraine’s accession to the EU. Because the applications of Kyiv and Chișinău are politically linked, progress for one country was impossible without the other.
Plans of Ukraine and Moldova
After the opening of the first cluster, both countries expected rapid progress in the negotiations. Ukraine, in particular, plans to intensify the process and open all six negotiation clusters within a short timeframe.
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka previously stated that Kyiv aims to open all groups of negotiation chapters by mid-July. This approach is intended to accelerate integration into the European Union and bring the country closer to full membership.
However, the delay on Hungary’s part may affect these plans and complicate the further course of the negotiation process for both states.