The European Commission has proposed amending its internal rules to bypass Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s veto by initiating technical negotiations in several clusters.
EU leaders are scheduled to discuss the matter in Copenhagen on Oct. 1, followed by a meeting the next day with the presidents of Ukraine and Moldova.
Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Taras Kachka said Kyiv hopes to persuade Budapest to lift its veto, noting that a formal decision on Ukraine’s accession requires unanimity and is a “deep political issue.”
“But in the meantime, we have, and greatly appreciate, an offer from EU institutions and other member states to continue technical work on the clusters,” Kachka said.
“This will allow Kyiv and Chisinau to advance reforms, harmonize legislation, and prepare institutions. Once Hungary agrees to lift its veto, the formal process could be expedited.”
However, officials cautioned that proceeding at a technical level carries risks. The lack of public recognition of progress could weaken motivation for reforms in both Ukraine and Moldova, potentially complicating the accession process.
“Officials in Kyiv tell us that even soldiers on the frontlines are aware of the lack of technical progress in Brussels. We have to find a way to move forward somehow. The level of frustration is growing not only among Hungarians, but among all of us,” one EU diplomat said.
Kachka acknowledged that moving forward technically is not ideal and “creates a problem for everyone,” but emphasized that continuing work without interruption is crucial to avoid stalling reforms. He expressed cautious optimism about persuading Hungary to “adjust” its position.
Chisinau is also negotiating with the European Commission and supports continuation of technical work, even without an official decision on opening and closing negotiation clusters.
European Council President António Costa is exploring ways to change negotiation rules so that clusters could be opened by a majority of EU countries. But such a move would still require unanimous approval, particularly from Hungary, and officials say the proposal has little chance of success.
Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Hungary is the only country blocking Ukraine’s EU membership.