Budapest postponed the opening of the second and third
negotiating clusters, which cover integration into the EU single market and
economic and social policy, the sources said.
The government of Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar is
also demanding that the EU not accelerate Ukraine’s accession process. The
Financial Times said Budapest’s latest moves suggest that Hungarian authorities
remain reluctant to fully break with the policy toward Ukraine pursued by
former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
One EU diplomat described the delay as a “temporary
obstacle” that would probably be overcome. European officials, however, believe
direct political intervention will most likely be needed to secure Budapest’s
backing.
Magyar has opposed an accelerated path to Ukraine’s EU
membership from the outset. A long-planned summit with Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also yet to take place.
A Hungarian government representative said Budapest opposed
any “fast-track procedure” for Ukraine, arguing that Kyiv should not receive
more favorable terms than Western Balkan countries that have spent years
meeting EU accession requirements.
Opening EU accession negotiating clusters with Ukraine — key details
The first negotiating cluster with Ukraine and Moldova,
“Fundamentals,” formally opened in Luxembourg on June 15.
The European Union formally opened the sixth cluster of
Ukraine’s accession negotiations, covering external relations, on July 14.
The EU Council’s enlargement working group began reviewing
the screening results for the second and third clusters for Ukraine and Moldova
on July 17. Hungary agreed to advance Moldova’s third cluster but refused to
begin opening Ukraine’s second and third clusters. Most EU member states did
not support Budapest’s position, leaving the group without a decision and
blocking the openings for both countries.
Hungary again refused to approve the screening results for
the second and third negotiating clusters for Ukraine and Moldova at a meeting
of the EU Council’s enlargement working group on July 22.