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
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