The main obstacle to the launch of negotiations on the accession of Ukraine to the EU is the position of Budapest.
Ukraine is eager to join the EU. The European Commission recommends in its report the opening of negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on EU accession if certain conditions are met, and granting candidate status to Georgia. This decision will be made at the December Leaders’ Summit on December 14-15. The main obstacle is the position of Budapest: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban opposes the opening of negotiations with Ukraine, as well as the decision on long-term financial support.
Orbán’s activity
Hungary is systematically blocking the adoption of any decisions related to Ukraine at the meeting of EU leaders – from the beginning of negotiations to the approval of 50 billion euros of macro-financial assistance.
Orbán held talks with his Spanish counterpart, Pedro Sánchez, whose country currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union.
After a “frank telephone conversation” with Sanchez, Orban reiterated that EU leaders “should refrain from discussing the issue of Ukraine’s accession to the EU during the December meeting of the European Council , because there is no unity among the member countries on this issue. .”
The Spanish Prime Minister, without being specified, noted that he had spoken with his Hungarian counterpart about “progress towards Ukraine’s accession to the EU,” and pledged, on behalf of the country leading the Council of EU, which will do everything to reach consensus and maintain finances. and military support for Ukraine.
Ukraine’s efforts
The head of the Office of the President, Andriy Yermak, spoke by phone with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, Peter Szijjártó.
Ermak promised Szijjarto the adoption of “a number of important European integration bills” in the coming days. The head of the Presidential Office expressed hope for a “positive decision” at the EU summit on December 14-15 on the start of negotiations with Ukraine on membership in the European Union.
The parties also agreed to work on the upcoming meeting between President Vladimir Zelensky and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Zelensky himself discussed the upcoming EU summit with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. The President of Ukraine said that in a telephone conversation he congratulated Sanchez on his re-election to the office, after which he discussed security issues with him and spoke about Ukraine’s progress in implementing European Commission recommendations for opening EU accession negotiations.
“We hope that the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU will end with the adoption of a historic decision on the opening of negotiations for Ukraine’s accession to the EU,” Zelensky said.
What does the EU think?
European diplomats are divided on whether the Hungarian leader really wants to undermine support for Ukraine, or whether he is just trying to blackmail Brussels.
While some diplomats and EU officials are already planning workarounds or trying to counter the negative press that could follow the collapse of the European Council next week, others remain optimistic that they will find a way out of the situation. French President Emmanuel Macron belongs to the latter group.
Macron hopes he and Orban can reach a compromise over dinner in Paris before next week.
“The Hungarians are taking strong positions, they are increasing their negotiating leverage. If they do this, it is to give Viktor Orban the opportunity to negotiate… We are now entering a more active phase of negotiations, with high-level negotiations (between Orban and Macron), said a French diplomat.
“What Hungary is doing now only makes sense if it is trying to find a way,” added the French diplomat.
Orban’s decision to accept an invitation to dinner with Macron is a positive sign, according to some French officials.
But Macron’s idea to encourage Orban has also drawn criticism, as the French president has previously tried and failed to find compromises with other political leaders.
“He keeps trying and keeps failing. He tried it with Trump, then Putin, and he tried it with Orban,” another EU diplomat said, adding that the price of this latest special relationship was concessions to Orban weakening the EU.
“They keep feeding the beast and wonder why it comes back big and asks for more,” the diplomat said.
Another Paris official admitted that “Macron has a soft spot for bad boys – it challenges him intellectually.”
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.