Hungary blocks Ukraine’s final EU negotiating clusters
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Hungarian PM Peter Magyar (Photo: REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq)
Hungary
blocked the opening of Ukraine’s final negotiating clusters for EU accession, the
Kyiv Independent reported on Oct. 20, citing sources.
Ambassadors of the EU’s 27 member states met earlier that
day to approve the procedural step needed to begin work on the two remaining
clusters. They cover agriculture, environmental protection, and transportation.
However, Hungary blocked the initiative, frustrating the
other 26 EU countries. Three diplomats said representatives of the other member
states asked their Hungarian counterparts to explain the decision but received
no answer.
The Kyiv Independent reported that the veto will likely be
temporary. The Hungarian government may be seeking to avoid opposition
accusations that it is taking too soft a position toward Ukraine.
The publication also noted that the blockade could not be
linked to issues involving the rights of Ukraine’s Hungarian-speaking minority
because Kyiv adopted legislation addressing those concerns on Oct. 12.
The issue will be considered at each subsequent meeting of
the EU Council’s working group on enlargement in Brussels until the deadlock is
resolved. Advancing Ukraine and Moldova toward EU membership is one of the
priorities of Ireland’s presidency of the EU Council, which will continue
through the end of the year.
Senior EU officials and representatives of national
governments told the Kyiv Independent that they expect the two final clusters
to be officially opened in December.
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