After the outbreak of the conflict in Russia, Ukraine filed an application for EU membership, but was strongly opposed by Hungary, one of the EU member states. According to the European edition of Political News Network on September 29, five EU officials revealed that European Council President Costa was trying to bypass Hungary and simplify the process of new member states' accession to break the impasse of Ukraine and Moldova's EU membership.
Costa suggested that the “negotiation cluster” application for EU membership could be launched with the approval of a majority of EU member states without the unanimity of all member states. But if a “negotiation cluster” is to be closed, it still requires the unanimity of all EU member states. EU officials said the move was aimed at bypassing Hungary, and Costa is fighting for the support of EU countries.
The so-called “negotiating cluster” is a key legal step in the application process for EU accession, with more than 30 negotiating chapters for EU accession being divided into six negotiating clusters. Under current rules, each stage of the accession process must be approved unanimously by the 27 EU member states, but Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán has repeatedly rejected Ukraine’s application.
If the proposal is implemented, even if one or two countries oppose it, Ukraine and Moldova's applications to join the EU can continue to push forward," said a lower threshold would allow Ukraine and Moldova to initiate the necessary reforms to show progress in achieving EU standards in specific policy areas.
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EU diplomatic officials revealed that Costa met with several European leaders during a recent “capital tour.” Last week, Costa also held bilateral talks between the UN General Assembly and continued to lobby EU leaders.
One of the officials said: "Enlarging the EU is an important priority for the President of the European Council. He believes that this is the most important geopolitical investment that the EU can make. That's why he believes it is necessary to continue discussing various ways to ensure that Ukraine's reform efforts can be translated into tangible steps."
According to Politics News Network, Ukraine has completed the process of reviewing the legislation needed to advance its candidacy, and EU Commissioner Marta Kos, in charge of good neighbourhood and expansion, will visit Ukraine this week.
Kosta said: “All clusters have completed the review in record time. Ukraine has fulfilled its commitments and is ready to move toward the next step, now it is up to the member states to light the green light. Neither Ukraine nor Europe can accept Ukraine’s slowdown in reform momentum, and now is the time to accelerate.”
Ukraine applied for EU membership in February 2022 and became a candidate country in June of the same year. In December 2023, the European Council decided to start accession negotiations with Ukraine. In June 2024, the EU held its first intergovernmental meeting with Ukraine in Luxembourg.
Moldova has also applied for membership in the European Union, Politics News Network said that as Moldova and Ukraine are "partners" in the process of accession, Moldova cannot make progress as long as Ukraine does not get out of the impasse.
Hungary has repeatedly expressed opposition to Ukraine's accession to the European Union.On September 22, local time, Hungarian Prime Minister Orban delivered a speech in Parliament saying that Ukraine's accession to the European Union would harm the EU's interests, and Hungary did not support Ukraine's accession to the European Union.
Orban also stressed that Hungary, as a member of the European Union, is not at war with any country, so the European Union cannot declare a state of war on behalf of Hungary. Hungary has never authorized anyone in the EU to start war, nor does it want the EU to fall into war.
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