Orban warns of economic impact as Ukraine moves toward EU membership

Hungarian President Viktor Orban has raised concerns regarding the potential impact of Ukraine's integration into the European Union's economic system after the conflict concludes.

Orban warned that such integration could put Hungarian, Polish, and French farmers in a difficult position, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

According to Orban, Ukraine's accession to the EU, a goal actively pursued by Brussels, would necessitate substantial protective measures for agriculture. He argued that European farmers would be unable to compete with Ukraine’s large-scale, low-cost agricultural production, which could destabilize the European market.

Hungary remains one of the EU's staunchest opponents of Ukraine’s accession. Orban has consistently blocked pan-European initiatives in support of Kyiv and has called for the lifting of sanctions on Russia.

Hungary is reliant on Russian oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline, with sanctions on this pipeline not currently under consideration, though future restrictions remain a possibility.

Notably, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has expressed that under Poland's EU presidency, efforts may be made to expedite Ukraine's accession talks, following a deadlock last month. Tusk’s comments, made during a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Warsaw, suggest that Poland’s leadership could accelerate the process.

However, with 35 negotiation chapters still to be completed and Ukraine remaining in a state of conflict, full EU membership is expected to take years. The European Commission's President, Ursula von der Leyen, previously indicated that accession negotiations could begin in early 2025, contingent on Ukraine’s progress in meeting EU criteria.

By Aghakazim Guliyev