Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has complained that EU member states and Brussels are pressuring Budapest to open negotiation clusters with Ukraine as part of its EU accession process.
Szijjártó made this statement following the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg on April 14.
He noted that steps are currently being taken to open all negotiation chapters for Ukraine’s EU membership this year and lamented that all EU member states and Brussels are exerting heavy pressure on Hungary to allow Ukraine’s swift accession to the European Union.
“That’s why today they wanted us to give in,” Szijjártó said.
He added that Hungary is being pressured despite what he described as violations of the rights of the Hungarian national minority in Ukraine.
“I made it clear that only the Hungarian people can decide this matter… within the framework of a public consultation in April-May,” Szijjártó stated.
In February, Hungary blocked the opening of the first negotiation cluster with Ukraine and pledged to continue blocking further steps until public consultations on Ukraine’s accession are held.
On March 5, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced a survey to gauge public support for Ukraine’s EU membership.
According to the Hungarian government, ballot papers for the survey will begin to be sent out this week. One of the questions will ask whether the respondent supports Ukraine joining the European Union.
The Hungarian government insists that Ukraine’s accession to the EU would be dangerous for Hungary, including from agricultural and economic perspectives.
