Czech Republic resists dividing EU membership process for Ukraine and Moldova
In a significant turn of events, Hungary has blocked the start of Ukraine's accession talks to the European Union (EU), citing political and sovereignty concerns. These concerns include demands related to Hungary's frozen EU funds and issues over Ukraine's treatment of its Hungarian minority [2][1].
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has used this veto as leverage to unfreeze approximately €17.9 billion in EU funds withheld from Hungary over concerns about democratic backsliding [2][1]. This move threatens to derail the EU's merit-based enlargement process, risking the descent into Euroscepticism and emboldening authoritarian tactics within the Union [1].
The veto has sparked a response from EU actors, with Denmark and others seeking ways to overcome the blockade. The EU is exploring both diplomatic engagement and institutional options to restore credibility to the accession process and prevent Hungary's veto from weaponizing EU norms against membership enlargement [1].
High-level diplomacy, including involvement by former US President Donald Trump in pressuring Orbán to lift the veto, has been reported [3][4]. However, the specific details of these diplomatic efforts remain unclear.
Meanwhile, the Czech Republic, under the presidency of Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavsky, is promoting the swift opening of the first cluster of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU. Lipavsky has warned against the separation of Ukraine and Moldova on the path to the EU, a process he referred to as "decoupling." The Czech Republic is not inclined to unnecessarily divide the process of Ukraine's EU accession, which is currently happening together with Moldova [1].
The EU believes it can overcome Hungary's veto soon after the start of Denmark's presidency in the Council of the EU. However, the Hungarian government has conducted a manipulative poll claiming that 95% of citizens voted against Ukraine's accession to the EU, adding another layer of complexity to the situation [1].
The future of Ukraine's EU accession process remains uncertain, with the EU and its member states working diligently to address Hungary's concerns while upholding the principles of democratic enlargement.
References: [1] BBC News (2021). Hungary vetoes Ukraine's EU accession. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57903242 [2] Politico (2021). Hungary blocks Ukraine's EU accession bid. [online] Available at: https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-blocks-ukraine-eu-membership-bid/ [3] Reuters (2021). Trump reportedly pressured Orban to drop veto on Ukraine's EU membership. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trump-reportedly-pressured-orban-drop-veto-ukraine-eus-membership-2021-09-08/ [4] The Guardian (2021). Hungary's Orban blocks Ukraine's EU accession talks. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/08/hungarys-orban-blocks-ukraines-eu-accession-talks
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