Minister: Hungary to let citizens decide Ukraine’s EU membership via national referendum

Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó has announced the government's position on Ukraine's potential EU membership on the outcome of a national referendum. 

Szijjártó explained that Hungary sees the rapid push for Ukraine's EU accession as posing significant risks to the entire Union, including Hungary itself, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media. 

He emphasised, "Attempts to fast-track Ukraine’s accession to the European Union pose significant risks to the entire EU, including Hungary. Therefore, we believe it is appropriate for the Hungarian people to express their opinion on this matter. While technical negotiations with Ukraine could begin now, it would be right for the Hungarian people to have their say before the European Union proceeds.

Based on the outcome of the referendum, the Hungarian government will then take its position." The announcement comes after a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on March 6, where Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán revealed that the government had decided to hold a referendum on the issue. 

Orbán described the referendum process as "simple and quick." In the coming weeks, all Hungarian citizens will receive questionnaires by mail asking whether they support Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. The results of the referendum will play a crucial role in shaping Hungary’s position on Ukraine’s EU bid.

The Hungarian government has previously warned multiple times that the immediate accession of Ukraine to the EU would cause irreversible damage to the European economy. Additionally, Budapest believes that the Ukrainian authorities have failed to restore rights to the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia and have not stopped actions that threaten the energy security of Central Europe. These demands were raised by Budapest during discussions about Ukraine's integration into European structures. At the same time, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has emphasized that, in the long term, Hungary is open to the possibility of Ukraine's EU membership, provided the country meets all the requirements for accession candidates.

By Naila Huseynova