A last-minute Hungarian veto at the COELA meeting halted opening of Ukraine’s negotiation clusters, creating risk of delays to reforms and integration.

Hungary refused to open new stages of negotiations regarding Ukraine’s accession to the EU. Budapest tried to divide Ukraine and Moldova, but other countries opposed.

On the eve of July 17, a meeting of the EU Council Working Group on Enlargement (COELA) took place. The main topic was the opening of negotiation clusters number 2 and 3, which are critically important for the further integration of Ukraine and Moldova.

However Hungary opposed. Budapest blocked the process for the Ukrainian side, and this decision halted the entire procedure.

Attempt to divide the countries

The Hungarian delegation used selective tactics: diplomats agreed to open cluster number 3 for Moldova. At the same time, a green light for Ukraine was not turned on.

Today COELA discussed the results of the screening of clusters 2 and 3 for Ukraine and Moldova in order to approve them and send official letters to both states requesting them to present their negotiating positions to the EU for both clusters. But Hungary gave a “green light” only to sending a letter to Moldova regarding cluster No. 3.

– One of the publication’s sources

Such an approach did not please other bloc members. Most EU states opposed the splitting of the two countries.

Brussels believes that Ukraine and Moldova should move in parallel. As a result, Hungary’s proposal was rejected, but no decision was ever made.

What happens next

European officials have only one chance to fix the situation in the near future.

Here are the key dates on the EU schedule:

July 22 – the next COELA working group meeting;
August – the EU institutions’ summer break;
September 1 – the first meeting of experts after holidays.

The meeting next Wednesday will be the last before the summer holidays. If diplomats do not reach an agreement on July 22, the issue will be postponed at least until autumn. This means a loss of precious time for Ukrainian reforms and integration.