Hungary Has Once Again Stalled Ukraine’s EU Accession: What Happened
23 June 23:32
Hungary has blocked a key decision necessary for opening the next negotiation chapters in the process of Ukraine and Moldova’s accession to the European Union. Budapest became the only EU capital that did not support the submission of a document outlining the common position of all 27 member states. Politico reported this, citing two European diplomats, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
Due to the Hungarian government’s stance, Ukraine’s plan to open all six negotiation clusters by mid-July 2026 is now in jeopardy.
What decision did Hungary block?
On June 23, Hungarian representatives objected to sending a letter to the European Council and the European Commission on behalf of the 27 EU member states.
This document was intended to set out the EU’s common position on the further opening of negotiation clusters for Ukraine and Moldova.
Such a decision must be adopted unanimously. Since Budapest did not support the initiative, the necessary procedural step has not yet been completed. The issue is scheduled to be reconsidered next week.
Formally, this does not mean the cancellation of negotiations or a definitive block on Ukraine’s accession to the EU. Hungary is delaying the opening of the next sets of negotiation chapters.
Ukraine had planned to open all clusters by mid-July
On June 15, 2026, Ukraine and Moldova officially opened the first negotiation cluster—“Fundamentals.” It covers issues related to the rule of law, the functioning of democratic institutions, the judicial system, public procurement, and the fight against corruption.
Following this, Kyiv announced its intention to move quickly to the next stages. Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka stated that Ukraine expects to open all six negotiation clusters by mid-July.
However, Hungary’s objections could derail this timeline. The consent of each of the 27 EU member states is required to move the negotiations forward.
Why Ukraine and Moldova’s applications are being considered together
Ukraine and Moldova were granted EU candidate status in June 2022. The official decision to begin negotiations was adopted in 2023, and the first intergovernmental conferences took place in June 2024.
At the same time, the actual opening of negotiation chapters was delayed for a long time due to the position of the previous Hungarian government led by Viktor Orbán.
The progress of Ukraine and Moldova was politically intertwined: blocking negotiations with Ukraine simultaneously held back Moldova’s accession process as well.
In June 2026, all EU member states finally agreed to open the first negotiation cluster for both countries. This was preceded by an agreement between Kyiv and Budapest regarding the rights of the Hungarian national minority in Ukraine.
What Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar Said
The new head of the Hungarian government, Péter Magyar, did not oppose the opening of the first cluster. However, his government is taking a cautious stance on the pace of Ukraine’s further progress.
According to diplomats, Hungary insisted on removing the phrase “as soon as possible” from the conclusions of the EU leaders’ meeting when discussing the opening of subsequent clusters for Kyiv.
Mátyás stated that he does not believe it is right to open all six clusters at once. He explained this by noting that work on the first block of negotiations has only just begun.
The Hungarian prime minister also believes that fast-tracking Ukraine and Moldova could send the wrong signal to the Western Balkan states. Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia have been going through the procedures necessary for EU accession for many years.
What Are Negotiation Clusters?
European Union legislation, to which a candidate country must align, is divided into thematic negotiation chapters. Most of these are grouped into six clusters:
- Fundamentals of the accession process;
- Internal Market;
- Competitiveness and inclusive growth;
- Green Agenda and Sustainable Mobility;
- Resources, agriculture, and cohesion;
- External relations.
The first cluster opens at the start of negotiations and closes last. Progress in this cluster affects the pace of the entire accession process.
Overall, the negotiations cover dozens of areas—from judicial reform and the fight against corruption to energy, agriculture, taxation, the environment, and foreign policy.
Can Hungary Completely Block Ukraine’s EU Accession?
Every key stage of EU enlargement requires the unanimous support of member states. Therefore, a single country can temporarily block the opening or closing of negotiation chapters.
At the same time, Hungary’s current position does not yet mean a definitive end to accession negotiations. The document is scheduled to be brought up for discussion again, and EU representatives may try to reach a compromise with Budapest.
Ukraine continues its technical preparations for the negotiations and the alignment of its legislation with European Union standards.
