Media: Budapest stalls Ukraine and Moldova’s path toward EU membership

Hungary has once again blocked progress in Ukraine and Moldova’s accession negotiations with the European Union, suspending discussions on chapters covering access to the single market and social policy, Euractiv reported, citing sources.

According to the sources, Budapest refused to approve the opening of the second and third negotiating clusters, arguing that Ukraine must first fulfil an agreement concerning the rights of ethnic Hungarians.

Hungary raised similar objections in July. The issue is significant because the opening of each negotiating stage requires the unanimous approval of all 27 EU member states.

EU accession negotiations are divided into 33 chapters, which are grouped unevenly into six negotiating clusters. The launch of accession talks does not set a deadline for membership and does not guarantee that a candidate will ultimately join the bloc.

The length of the process can vary substantially. Montenegro, which could join the EU next year, has been engaged in accession negotiations for 14 years. Türkiye, which currently has no realistic prospect of membership, remains formally an EU candidate and has been conducting accession talks for nearly 21 years.

By Tamilla Hasanova