Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Anita Orbán has stated that the negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union could be automatically suspended if Kyiv fails to comply with agreements regarding the rights of the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia. Anita Orbán made these remarks ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg.
According to the Hungarian minister, following several weeks of negotiations, Budapest and Kyiv reached a bilateral agreement on the rights of Transcarpathian Hungarians in the areas of education, public administration, the use of symbols and culture.
“A major achievement last week was that this agreement was included in the Ukraine–EU Action Plan on national minorities,” said Orbán.
She explained that the agreement had become part of the first negotiation cluster, which concerns fundamental rights, democracy and the rule of law, and is due to open on 15 June.
“The agreement also includes a so-called joint benchmark, which means that if Ukraine fails to implement this agreement or does not implement it in full, the accession process within this cluster will automatically be halted,” said the Hungarian minister.
Orbán emphasised that for Hungary, the fulfilment and implementation of agreements on minority rights is a “fundamental condition” for Ukraine’s European integration.
At the same time, she stated that Budapest no longer opposes the start of EU accession negotiations with Ukraine.
“Hungary is once again acting as a European country, defending its national interests,” said the minister, describing the current moment as “Hungary’s return” to a shared European future.
She also emphasised that Budapest does not support any alternative membership formats for Ukraine.
“We support the standard process based on the current enlargement methodology, which is based on results and reforms,” Orbán stated.
The opening of the first negotiation cluster on Ukraine and Moldova’s accession to the EU is scheduled to take place on 15 June at intergovernmental conferences in Luxembourg, which will be held following the conclusion of the meeting of EU foreign ministers.