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Ukraine Closer To EU Membership Talks But Hungary Considers Veto

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

BRUSSELS/KYIV/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – The president of war-torn Ukraine praised as “historic” a recommendation by the European Union’s executive to launch membership talks with Kyiv, but EU member Hungary opposed the move, citing security concerns.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said it was a “strong and historic step that paves the way to a stronger EU with Ukraine as its member.”

The national EU leaders were due to decide mid-December on whether to accept the Commission’s recommendation. But such a decision requires unanimity of all the bloc’s 27 members, with Hungary seen as the main potential obstacle.

Already, Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said Ukraine would not “be eligible” as long as it waged war against Russia’s invading army.

Additionally, Hungary has expressed concern about the treatment of minority ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine. Although Ukraine’s Constitution guarantees the unrestricted use of Russian and other minority languages, legislation severely curtails the usage of minority languages, including Hungarian, in public life and education. Hungary has also been upset by reports of casualties among ethnic Hungarians drafted into the Ukrainian army.

Also, “There is a war in Ukraine, and we can see that neither media freedom nor freedom of speech is enforced. There aren’t even we elections called,” Szijjártó noted.

“It would obviously be absurd if, amid such circumstances, the institution or members of the European Union had to take a position on whether Ukraine meets all requirements such as respecting the rule of law.”

CORRUPTION ISSUES

The European Commission’s report on Wednesday showed that Kyiv met four out of seven conditions to start formal accession talks, though more were near completion.

The Commission said Kyiv should still satisfy remaining conditions related to reining in corruption, adopting a law on lobbying in line with EU standards, and strengthening national minority safeguards.

Before the war, Ukraine was ranked by Transparency International as one of the most corrupt countries in Europe, but the Commission apparently noticed progress.

“Ukraine continues to face tremendous hardship and tragedy provoked by Russia’s war of aggression,” noted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “And yet, the Ukrainians are deeply reforming their country, even as they are fighting a war that is existential for them.”

The Brussels-based Commission would reassess progress next March when talks could officially begin.

However, a top aide to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Budapest would not support Ukraine’s EU integration unless Kyiv changes its laws on minorities, particularly regarding education.

Kyiv has reportedly sent a proposal to Budapest to change the legislation to meet Hungary’s concerns.

SOME GOOD NEWS

There was also some good news for other countries, including Ukraine’s impoverished neighbor Moldova, with the Commission recommending conditional membership talks despite tensions with Moscow.

“Moldova is firmly on the path to EU membership, and we will continue working relentlessly towards this goal,” the country’s president, Maia Sandu, said in welcoming the move.

Brussels further also stressed that Georgia should receive the status of a “membership candidate” once it meets outstanding conditions, including aligning with EU sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

The Commission also advised the EU to begin membership talks with Bosnia-Herzegovina after extensive conditions are met.

Yet while EU countries Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia favor Bosnia’s entry talks, the Netherlands has highlighted democratic backsliding in Bosnia.

In 2013, Croatia was the last to join the EU – a bloc of 450 million people and one of the wealthiest places in the world, though increasingly struggling to keep its international clout.

However seven years later in 2020, Britain became the first nation to leave the EU, seen as a major setback for European integration following World War Two.