Budapest refused to approve the opening of the second and third negotiating clusters, citing the requirement that Kiev first fulfill the agreement on the rights of ethnic Hungarians
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BRUSSELS, September 2. /The Times of Russia/. The Ukraine EU accession talks Hungary has once again stalled after Budapest suspended progress on negotiations concerning access to the single market and social policy, according to the Euractiv portal, which cited sources familiar with the discussions.
Hungary refused to approve the opening of the second and third negotiating clusters, according to the report. Budapest linked its position to a demand that Kiev first fulfill an agreement concerning the rights of ethnic Hungarians. The development has once again slowed the Ukraine EU accession negotiations process.
Ukraine EU Accession Talks Hungary Delayed Again
According to Euractiv, Hungary declined to support the launch of the second and third negotiating clusters in the Ukraine EU membership talks. The clusters cover discussions related to access to the single market and social policy.
Budapest cited the need for Kiev to first meet commitments related to the rights of ethnic Hungarians. This is not the first time Hungary has raised the issue during the accession process. The country had already expressed similar concerns in July.
The latest development means that the Ukraine EU accession talks Hungary has challenged cannot move forward on these stages without Budapest’s support.
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Why Ukraine EU Accession Negotiations Require Unanimous Support
The EU accession negotiating clusters require the unanimous backing of all 27 EU member states before each stage can be opened.
As a result, Hungary’s refusal to approve the second and third clusters has prevented further movement in the Ukraine EU accession negotiations. The requirement for unanimous support applies to each stage of the process.
The report highlights the role of individual member states in the accession procedure, as every one of the 27 EU member states must agree before a new stage of negotiations can begin.
How the EU Accession Process Works
The EU accession process is divided into 33 sections, or chapters. These chapters are grouped into six negotiating clusters.
The opening of negotiations does not establish a fixed timeframe for membership and does not guarantee that a candidate country will ultimately join the European Union.
The six negotiating clusters therefore represent stages within a broader accession process rather than a guarantee of eventual EU membership.
The duration of accession negotiations can vary considerably between candidate countries.
Montenegro and Turkey Show How Long EU Talks Can Take
The report points to Montenegro as an example of the lengthy nature of EU accession negotiations. Montenegro could join the European Union next year, but it has been negotiating for 14 years.
Turkey, meanwhile, formally remains a candidate country and has been conducting accession talks for nearly 21 years.
These examples demonstrate that beginning Ukraine EU membership talks does not establish a fixed timetable for eventual admission to the European Union.
The latest disagreement involving Hungary therefore represents another obstacle in the broader accession process, rather than a determination of the final outcome.
The Ukraine EU accession talks Hungary has delayed remain subject to the requirement for unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states. The Times of Russia will continue to report on developments surrounding Ukraine’s EU accession process.
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