Hungary blocks EU membership progress for Ukraine and Moldova as Brussels considers decoupling their bids

Jun 22, 2026

Hungary has delayed a key procedural step for Ukraine and Moldova's EU membership bids by opposing a joint position letter. While the EU recently opened the first negotiating cluster for both nations, Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar opposes fast-tracking the process. Consequently, EU leadership suggests decoupling Moldova's bid from Ukraine's to allow the former to advance based on its rapid reform progress.

Hungary's accession veto lifted

▪The opening of the first negotiating chapter for Ukraine and Moldova had been blocked for years by former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
▪EU countries unanimously approved the opening of the first formal negotiating chapter, known as the 'Fundamentals' cluster, for Ukraine and Moldova on June 15, 2026.
▪Hungary delayed a key procedural step on June 23, 2026, by opposing a letter to the European Council and Commission that spells out the joint position of EU capitals.

EU decoupling Moldova Ukraine

▪During an EU summit, Hungary's Prime Minister Péter Magyar opposed a section in the joint conclusions that spoke about opening all clusters with Ukraine 'as soon as possible'.
▪The European Union has set the stage for potentially decoupling Moldova's accession process from Ukraine's after both countries opened their first cluster of negotiations.
▪EU leaders removed the phrase 'as soon as possible' from the Moldova-related section of the summit conclusions to maintain equal treatment with Ukraine.

Moldova's rapid reform progress

▪European Council President António Costa praised the Moldovan government for approving reforms very fast and predicted it could rapidly unlock the remaining five clusters.
▪Moldovan President Maia Sandu stated that the five remaining negotiating clusters should be opened immediately and without delays.

Ukraine's wartime accession challenges

▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended an EU summit to emphasize that Ukraine attaches high importance to EU accession as a future security guarantee.
▪Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka stated that Kyiv aims to open all six negotiating clusters by mid-July 2026.

Merit-based enlargement process

▪European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that once the first cluster is open, every candidate country is responsible for itself based on individual reforms.
▪Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar argued against opening all six clusters at once, stating it would send the wrong message to Western Balkan candidate countries.