Hungary blocks next steps in Ukraine, Moldova EU accession talks

Hungary blocked the next procedural steps in the EU accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova at a technical meeting on July 22, preventing the two countries from beginning formal negotiations on internal market and competitiveness reforms, several diplomats and officials told Euractiv.

The European Commission had hoped to open the remaining negotiation clusters before the end of the summer and maintains that the necessary technical work has been completed. However, Hungary has opposed moving ahead, arguing that it does not want to create the impression that Ukraine’s EU accession bid is being rushed. Moldova’s accession process is politically linked to Ukraine’s.

With no breakthrough at the meeting, further progress may not be possible until the next technical session, scheduled for September 1. A spokesperson for the Hungarian government declined to comment.

In June, when the European Commission began negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on the cluster covering core EU values, it said it intended to begin consultations on the remaining clusters in July.

The EU accession process is divided into 33 negotiation chapters grouped into six clusters. Opening negotiations does not set a timetable for membership and does not guarantee eventual admission to the bloc.

By Sabina Mammadli