
EU Summit: Competitiveness as a Pretext, Enlargement as the Objective
The informal retreat on February 12 reveals the tension between long-pending economic reform and mounting political pressure to fast-track Ukraine’s entry into the EU.

The informal retreat on February 12 reveals the tension between long-pending economic reform and mounting political pressure to fast-track Ukraine’s entry into the EU.

The proposal shows that Brussels is willing to override national vetoes and punish dissenting member states to get its way.

“If we take Ukraine into the European Union, we are at war with Russia,” the Hungarian prime minister nailed down.

Lithuania urges the EU to launch an autumn “Plan B” to support Ukraine’s reforms.

Despite strong rhetoric, concrete plans for Ukraine’s EU membership are lacking, the academics say.

Ukraine’s deputy PM says his country can work through the benchmarks for accession “without waiting for the Hungarians” to approve EU membership.

The European Commission seeks to reduce unanimity in the intermediate stages of the accession process.

Zelensky insists Kyiv’s allies must be involved “at every stage” of peace negotiations.

While Ukraine receives unprecedented support and political backing from the EU, Hungary remains under sanctions.

The Council of Europe also condemned Ukraine for brutality during conscription after a Hungarian citizen was beaten to death by draft officers.