Hungary is preventing the start of EU accession negotiations with Ukraine, citing concerns over national minority protections.
According to Polish media outlet RMF24, Hungary has blocked the opening of the first negotiation cluster on Ukraine’s EU membership, known as “Fundamentals,” which focuses on the rule of law. The report is based on information from an EU diplomat.
On Friday, February 14, the Polish presidency presented a letter outlining the conditions for opening the “Fundamentals” cluster, which will be sent to Ukraine. The document calls for the preparation and adoption of two key roadmaps—one addressing rule of law reforms and the other focusing on public administration improvements.
While the letter received broad support from EU member states, unanimous approval is required for it to proceed. The only opposition came from Hungary, which insisted that Ukraine must also develop a plan to safeguard national minority rights.
This standoff could delay the launch of Ukraine’s EU negotiations in April, as additional procedural approvals are still required—each of which could also be blocked.
