Hungary blocks rapid EU accession talks for Ukraine and Moldova

The Hungarian government, now led by Prime Minister Peter Magyar, has opposed the proposal to open all six negotiation chapters for Ukraine and Moldova at once. On 15 June EU member states unanimously opened the first formal negotiating chapter for both countries, but Hungary was the sole dissenting vote, delaying the schedule that aimed to complete the process by mid‑July.

Hungary blocked a joint letter signed by several European leaders that called for accelerated accession, arguing that “there are six clusters and we do not think opening all of them at once is a good idea.” Magyar also linked support to the protection of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia region, stating that “until Ukraine fulfils its commitments on the rights of the Hungarian minority, it cannot progress in the accession process.” The stance persists despite a recent pro‑Western shift in Hungary’s politics and continues to affect the timeline for the two candidate countries’ EU membership ambitions.