Ukraine’s path to the European Union will be full of obstacles—if a path exists at all—as two member states, Hungary and Slovakia, will very likely block the start of accession negotiations, or at least demand a high price in exchange for their leniency.
After the European Commission on Wednesday, November 8th proposed accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova to be initiated by the European Council—leaders of the 27 member states—Hungary has made it clear it will veto such a decision at an EU summit this December.
“The way in which Ukraine violates the most basic rules of the EU in the areas of national community and ethnic minority rights is particularly blatant,” Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said on Wednesday, referring to the restrictions of the rights of ethnic minorities—including Hungarians—living in Ukraine. Under Volodymyr Zelensky and his predecessor Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine has restricted the use of ethnic languages in ethnic minority schools and the media, and also cultural and public institutions in communities where minorities form a majority of the local population. Hungary has always been adamant—even before the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year—that it would block Ukraine’s entry into the EU or NATO until minority rights were restored.
Balázs Orbán, political advisor of the Hungarian prime minister, tweeted:
The recently adopted Ukrainian language law makes life more difficult for Hungarians, especially in the education of children. Protecting the rights of indigenous minorities is an integral part of the EU’s core values, so we cannot support Ukraine’s EU integration if this law is in force.
The European Commission did indeed state that Ukraine had completed “over 90 percent of the necessary steps” to start negotiations, but the fight against corruption and strengthening national minority safeguards were still requirements by the EU.
Not to mention the fact that Ukraine is still at war, with about one-fifth of its internationally recognised territory under Russian control. Péter Szijjártó alluded to this on Wednesday, stating that Ukraine’s entry into the EU will bring war to the bloc, “which, obviously, no one wants.” While there are great efforts within the EU to accept a country at war as a member, Serbia’s accession negotiations have stalled for the mere fact of the country not recognising Kosovo’s independence.
Hungary would prioritise the EU integration of Western Balkan countries, and the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the border-free Schengen Area, blocked by Austria and the Netherlands for concerns related to migration and organised crime.
Ukraine and Moldova completed the transition from EU applicant to candidate eleven times faster than the average member, Newsweek points out in its article. Both countries won candidacy status—a step on the road to opening negotiations—in June 2022, around four months after applying to join the union. The road to actual membership will probably take much longer.
I still cannot understand why Ukraine, which is fighting hard for European values, is out of the EU, whereas Hungary, which systematically undermines European values is still in the EU. It should be vice versa. Such behavior by Hungary will go down in history as extremely selfish and unethical,
Oleksandr Merezhko, chair of the Ukrainian parliament’s foreign affairs committee told Newsweek.
A much less confrontational reaction to Hungary’s stance was given by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Olha Stefanishyna, who on Thursday, November 9th said that Ukrainian and Hungarian officials were working together on legislative changes, and bringing Hungary on side would be a challenge, but that she was “confident” Ukraine would succeed.
Slovakia could be another thorn in Ukraine’s side. Left-wing nationalist Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico won September’s parliamentary election running on a platform opposed to continued EU-NATO military support for Kyiv. The government, formed only a few weeks ago, rejected on Wednesday a previously drafted plan to donate rockets and ammunition to Ukraine. The country had been a staunch backer of Ukraine, and a previous centre-right government supplied military equipment including fighting vehicles as well as an S-300 air defence system and MiG-29 jets.
The Slovak government will help Ukraine with humanitarian aid, “not militarily” Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok said, adding: “We want peace, not war.”
