Hungary blocks opening of remaining negotiating clusters for Ukraine and Moldova – Politico
Hungary has blocked a key procedural step needed to open the remaining negotiating clusters in Ukraine and Moldova's EU accession talks, jeopardizing the timeline for opening them by mid-July.
Hungary delays EU negotiating clusters for Ukraine and Moldova
Hungary has delayed a key procedural step required to open the remaining negotiating clusters in Ukraine and Moldova's EU accession talks, according to two unnamed EU diplomats speaking to Politico, as reported by European Pravda.
Following the opening of the first cluster, Ukraine and Moldova stated their goal was to have the remaining chapters opened by mid-July. That timeline is now at risk after Hungary objected on 23 June to sending a letter to the European Council and the European Commission on behalf of the EU's 27 member states. The letter would outline the joint position of member states on opening negotiating chapters.
The two diplomats said Budapest was the only capital to oppose the initiative, which requires unanimous approval from all 27 member states. The proposal will be discussed again next week.
The move aligns with Prime Minister Péter Magyar's cautious stance on EU membership for Ukraine. Although Magyar did not oppose the opening of the first cluster for Ukraine, his government succeeded in having wording on clusters for Kyiv being opened "as soon as possible" removed from the written conclusions of a meeting of EU leaders held in Brussels last week. Magyar explained that this could send "the wrong signal" to Western Balkan countries working towards EU accession.
Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hinted that Ukraine and Moldova are now on separate paths to EU accession following the opening of the first cluster. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope that the remaining five clusters in Ukraine's EU accession negotiations would be opened in the coming weeks.
