Hungary’s government has opposed continued EU military and economic aid to Kiev – and is also strongly critical of Ukrainian EU membership.
The Hungarian stance has upset Sweden’s prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, who considers opposition to Ukraine’s EU integration “appalling”.
The EU’s founding principles require unanimity among member states to take decisions – and each member state can veto proposals it considers harmful or destructive on certain issues. This applies, for example, to the EU’s common foreign and security policy, taxation issues and the Union budget.
The fact that consensus must be reached and that a majority cannot yet completely overrule individual member states on all issues has recently been portrayed by many EU leaders as something very negative. During the ongoing war in Ukraine, political leaders have increasingly argued that the veto should be abolished.
The main reason is that some EU countries, led by Hungary, often diverge from the policies of dominant EU countries such as Germany and France, especially in their approach to the war in Ukraine.
“Promised to throw a wrench in the works””
The Hungarian government does not want to increase military and economic aid to Kiev, has advocated ending the war as soon as possible and does not see Ukrainian membership of NATO or the EU as an option.
The last two EU summits also refused to endorse a joint declaration emphasizing continued support for Ukraine, and Budapest’s unwillingness to endorse Ukrainian EU membership has infuriated Ulf Kristersson.
– Hungary has essentially promised to throw a wrench in the works of this process, we find that appalling, not surprising but appalling, he says in an interview with the Swedish state radio SR.
Ukraine currently has candidate country status and, according to the European Commission, has now aligned its laws with the EU acquis and implemented the necessary reforms to start membership negotiations.
“26 countries are clear”
However, all EU countries have to say yes before such talks can begin, and Hungary’s government has so far said no – arguing that the Hungarian minority in the country is not sufficiently protected.
However, according to Swedish state radio’s analysis, it is “Hungary’s much softer line towards Russia” that is the real reason for opposing Ukrainian EU membership.
Sweden’s EU minister Jessica Rosencrantz (M), like Ulf Kristersson, takes a very negative view of Hungary’s unwillingness to let Ukraine into the Union and says it should bow to the majority view.
– 26 countries are clear that we should start negotiations and the Commission is clear that Ukraine has done its job, so there is nothing to motivate Hungary to block this, she states.
