Hungary again blocks Moldova and Ukraine EU accession talks

Hungary has once again blocked negotiations on Moldova and Ukraine’s accession to the EU

Hungary has once again blocked progress in the negotiations on Moldova’s and Ukraine’s accession to the European Union (EU), stalling the opening of negotiation chapters relating to access to the single market and social policy. The latest freeze in the negotiation process occurred at the first meeting of the EU Council’s Working Party on Enlargement (COELA) following the summer recess, held on 1 September.

Source: Kate Kasiutich/CC0

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This has been reported by European media, citing diplomats and EU representatives. “Budapest cited the need for Ukraine to fulfil its bilateral agreement on the rights of ethnic Hungarians,” the report states. It is noted that the consent of all 27 EU member states is required to open a negotiation cluster.

According to the publication’s sources, Hungary raised similar objections in July, when it also refused to give its consent to the opening of the same clusters.

At the same time, Hungary expressed its willingness to approve the screening for the third cluster separately for Moldova. However, such a scenario of ‘separating’ the two candidate countries is categorically opposed by the majority of EU member states, led by Ireland, reports nv.ua.

It was previously reported that the EU would need to exert political pressure on Hungary to ensure that Budapest stops delaying the opening of the clusters in the bloc’s enlargement negotiations. One diplomat described the delays as a “minor hiccup” which is likely to be resolved.

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