"This is a historic chance": Lithuanian president reminds Hungary of the principle of unanimity before the EU summit
Kyiv • UNN
Lithuanian President Nausėda emphasizes the importance of unanimity in EU decision-making, warning against abuse of the principle, and emphasizes the historic chance to start EU accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova
EU decision-making is based on unanimity, and Hungary should play accordingly, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said upon arrival at the EU leaders' summit, UNN reports citing Politico.
"If we abuse the principle of unanimity, there will be more and more voices asking why we are still making decisions on the basis of consensus," he warned.
"Therefore, for my country, which benefits from the unanimity principle, because it is a small country like Hungary, it is very important to adhere to this principle. But we should not abuse this principle and ... use it very properly and very fairly," Nauséda emphasized, as quoted by The Guardian .
He pointed out that this EU summit is a historic moment for Ukraine and Moldova's accession to the EU.
"We have a chance - a historic chance - to take a very bold decision to start negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova," The Guardian quoted Nauseda as saying.
However, "other countries are also waiting - my friends in Georgia" have implemented reforms and made progress, the Baltic leader said.
Recall
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban showed no signs of readiness to compromise on Ukraine's EU accession when he arrived at the summit on Thursday morning.
