EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos welcomed the "constructive engagement" between Hungary and Ukraine regarding the issues of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine, and expects the opening of negotiation clusters for EU accession "by the summer," UNN reports.
I am pleased to see constructive engagement between Hungary and Ukraine on issues concerning the Hungarian minority in Ukraine. Dialogue and mutual understanding are essential for advancing Ukraine on its European path
She noted that EU accession "has repeatedly shown in the past that it offers the strongest guarantees for minorities across our continent."
The European Commission continues to support all efforts to open all clusters with Ukraine and Moldova by the summer
Addendum
Recently, Euronews reported that the new Hungarian government says it is open to engaging with Ukraine regarding its EU accession, according to several sources.
The Hungarian Ambassador stated at a meeting last week that Budapest is now ready to engage with Ukraine to achieve concrete results, as the new government of Péter Magyar begins technical talks with Kyiv on how to resolve the complex issue of the Hungarian minority. Brussels is seeking a breakthrough.
Under Viktor Orbán, Hungary blocked the opening of Ukraine's EU accession process regarding the so-called first cluster, which covers key reforms necessary for negotiations, including the rule of law and financial control.
The first concrete sign that relations between the two countries might be improving appeared during a discussion among EU ambassadors last Wednesday, when a Hungarian diplomat stated that Budapest was ready to engage on the issue. The Ambassador also noted that a merit-based methodology should be followed and that Hungary would pay special attention to the rights and legal framework of the Hungarian minority.
The issue of enlargement regarding Ukraine may be on the agenda of the next European Council meeting, where a meeting between Magyar and Zelenskyy is also expected, Euronews notes. However, as Euronews has learned, the office of European Council President António Costa will only put the issue of Ukraine's accession on the agenda if concrete progress in terms of officially lifting the Hungarian veto on starting accession talks is announced by then.
Magyar speaks of agreement with Costa regarding the rights of Hungarians in Ukraine19.05.26, 03:17
A source close to the Hungarian government told Euronews that if Ukraine fulfills the 11-point plan created by the previous Hungarian government led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán — and if representatives of the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia approve the outcome — Hungary will likely support the opening of the first major chapter of negotiations with Ukraine.
However, one possible complication is that the Orbán government may have included several difficult or politically sensitive demands in the 11 points, which the source described as "hidden mines," potentially complicating their full implementation.