Kyiv hopes EU accession talks will proceed despite Hungary’s intransigence
REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
The European Union has procedures to open substantive membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova even if Hungary continues to frustrate the process, Ukrainian Deputy PM Taras Kachka said on Nov. 6.
Kachka, who leads Ukraine’s European integration efforts, told reporters that if Budapest maintains its veto through the April 2026 Hungarian parliamentary elections, the European Union could adopt a political (as opposed to legally binding) decision to press ahead with negotiations. Such a move, he said, would take the form of “presidency conclusions” or a “presidency statement” by the EU Council and would not require unanimous approval from all 27 member states.
“Most likely it would go forward without Hungary,” Kachka said.
“All the other member states have confirmed at every meeting that they support opening the first [negotiations] cluster.”
That decision, he added, would ensure Ukraine and neighboring Moldova could continue detailed talks on aligning their laws with EU rules even if the formal talks closed.
“Our main victory is that under no circumstances will the negotiating process be paused,” the official said.
“That has never happened with any candidate country. For us and for Moldova, it’s crucial to stick to the schedule and finish negotiations by 2028.”
Kachka said Moldova will not pursue a separate accession track from Ukraine, underscoring broad EU agreement on opening clusters simultaneously for both countries. He outlined a roadmap beginning Jan. 1, 2026: Ukraine will submit its negotiating positions, the EU will approve Kyiv’s national program to adapt Ukrainian law to EU standards, and Brussels and Kyiv will agree on a weekly work plan for at least two years, with regular progress reports.
Ukraine’s EU accession talks have been blocked by Hungary since July, despite political backing from other EU capitals.
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