Hungary opposes accelerated Ukrainian membership in the EU

Yesterday 18:30

By: Azzat Manal

Hungary opposes accelerated Ukrainian membership in the EU

Hungary is opposing any attempt to fast-track Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, with Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán saying that any final decision on the country’s membership should be put to a national referendum.

Speaking at a press conference in Budapest, Orbán said Hungary would not support accelerated accession procedures under any circumstances. She added that if Ukraine reaches the stage of formal membership negotiations, Hungarian citizens should have the final say through a referendum.

Ukraine was granted EU candidate status in June 2022, a move that came after Russia’s full-scale invasion and was widely viewed as a major political signal of support for Kyiv’s European aspirations. Since then, Ukraine has sought to advance the accession process and secure a clear path toward eventual membership.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly pushed for his country to join the EU by 2027. European officials, however, have stressed that Ukraine must meet the bloc’s legal, institutional and economic requirements before membership can be considered.

EU accession is subject to a wide-ranging reform process, including alignment with European legislation, strengthening democratic institutions and addressing concerns related to the rule of law. The process can take years and requires the unanimous approval of EU member states at key stages.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has previously acknowledged that member states are not ready to set a specific date for Ukraine’s accession. Several European governments have also expressed reservations about the pace of the process and the challenges associated with admitting a country still affected by war.

Hungary’s position could therefore become an important factor in Ukraine’s efforts to advance toward membership, particularly because EU enlargement decisions require broad agreement among member states.

The debate over Ukraine’s accession reflects wider divisions within the European Union over how quickly the bloc should expand and how to balance political support for Kyiv with the demanding conditions attached to membership.