Sabotage of Ukraine's European Union path asserted by Lithuanian Foreign Minister
Ukraine's EU Membership Hurdles
The path to the European Union for Ukraine is facing obstacles, as per Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys in a recent press statement. He accused Hungary of sabotaging Ukraine's membership bid by consistently blocking its progress.
Budrys highlighted that the EU was contemplating moving forward with Moldova whilst leaving Ukraine behind, contradicting the merit-based evaluation of the process. He emphasized that Ukraine's progress is evident and should be accompanied by the opening of the first block of chapters, an opportunity currently unavailable due to Hungary's hindrance.
"The process should be based on merit, not the whim of a single member state," Budrys asserted. He also mentioned that the situation needs addressing to prevent the EU from becoming dysfunctional and potentially ending the expansion discussion altogether.
Moreover, Budrys stated that EU enlargement without Ukraine is unimaginable. The minister's comments follow murmurs of a potential "decoupling" of Moldova and Ukraine from the EU membership process, with EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos hinting at such a scenario as early as June.
Thisdevelopment occurred after Moldova and Ukraine applied for EU membership following the influx of Russian troops into Ukraine in early 2022. Last year, the 27 EU member states gave their approval to initiate accession talks with both countries.
Background Insights:
Hungary's opposition to Ukraine's EU membership is driven by domestic politics, strategic interests, and concerns about the protection of national minorities and Ukraine's potential financial obligations as an EU member. This standoff poses challenges for the EU's internal consensus, strategic interests, and relationships with neighboring countries. The EU is currently exploring alternatives to address this situation, including diplomatic efforts and potential sanctions.
- The ongoing standoff between Ukraine and Hungary over Ukraine's EU membership bid has brought war-and-conflicts, politics, and policy-and-legislation into the spotlight, as foreign ministers clash on the merit-based evaluation of the EU membership process.
- As the EU grapples with the potential decoupling of Moldova and Ukraine from the European Union, the wider implications of this general-news issue extend beyond the region, threatening to shake the EU's internal consensus and jeopardize its strategic relationships with neighboring countries.
