Hungary signals it will ease veto on next stage of Ukraine, Moldova EU talks
Version 2: The substance is unchanged: further outlets have reported the same expected easing of Hungary's veto, adding the EU's coming enlargement calendar and background on the accession procedure, with no earlier claim disputed.
In short
Hungary has signalled it will stop blocking the next procedural steps in the EU accession talks of Ukraine and Moldova, with RBC, TASS, Vedomosti, Kommersant and Interfax citing a Financial Times report that Prime Minister Peter Magyar told diplomats not to obstruct letters about opening two further negotiating clusters — the internal market and competitiveness. Vedomosti and Kommersant reported that Budapest's full political support depends on Ukraine's parliament passing a law on national minority rights in education, with a vote set for 12 October. The documents describe a signal of intent rather than a formal Hungarian announcement.
Read the full story 3 min read
Hungary has given signs it will ease its veto on further progress in the EU accession talks of Ukraine and Moldova, according to RBC, TASS, Vedomosti, Kommersant and Interfax. The Financial Times, cited by TASS, Vedomosti, Kommersant and Interfax, reported that Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar told diplomats not to block letters to Kyiv and Chisinau about opening two further negotiating clusters: the internal market and competitiveness. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Vedomosti, citing the FT and two officials, said the move concerns procedural steps needed to open new clusters, naming the internal market and competitiveness and inclusive growth; TASS and Interfax named the internal market and competitiveness. Kommersant said the FT called it a “procedural but symbolically important” step forward. Interfax said Budapest is expected to lift its veto from a technical stage, and noted that under EU rules all 27 member states must consent at each stage. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Vedomosti and Kommersant both reported that full Hungarian political support would depend on Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada passing a law expanding the rights of national minorities in education, with a vote planned for 12 October. Kommersant said the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine are a key issue for Budapest, that the law was drafted taking account of Hungarian officials' views, and that Hungary's position is tied to a dispute over ethnic Hungarians in Zakarpattia. [ 3 , 4 ]
Kommersant also reported the coming EU calendar: the European Commission will consider proposals for a new wave of enlargement at a college meeting on 6 October in Strasbourg, they will be discussed at an EU summit on 15–16 October, and by the end of October the Commission is to present roadmaps for the accession of Albania, Moldova, Montenegro and Ukraine. [ 4 ]
Hungary had objected before, Vedomosti reported: on 29 July it blocked the start of talks with Kyiv on two economic directions, and on 3 September Magyar said Hungary would not support an accelerated procedure for Ukraine's accession, arguing Budapest opposes fast-track admission for any country. Interfax set out the wider process, from the association agreement signed in 2014 and effective in 2017, to Ukraine's application on 28 February 2022, the European Commission's proposal of candidate status in June 2022 and the European Council's decision on 14 December 2023 to open talks. [ 3 , 5 ]
Vedomosti also reported limits set by others: on 2 October EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos said Ukraine could not join the EU in 2027 under the current procedure, that no exception would be made for Kyiv, and that she hoped as many clusters as possible would be opened by the end of 2026; on 4 October Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz failed to narrow positions, with Merz proposing associate membership with single market access and observer status in EU institutions but no voting rights — an initiative Zelensky rejected, saying Kyiv needed full membership. [ 3 ]
The accounts rest on the Financial Times report and the two officials it cited; the documents describe a signal of intent rather than a formal Hungarian announcement and do not say when the letters would be sent. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Why it matters
Easing the veto would let the EU move to a further procedural stage with Kyiv and Chisinau, though Budapest ties full support to a minority-rights law Ukraine's parliament is due to vote on. The documents also show the wider limits: the EU enlargement commissioner has said Ukraine cannot join by 2027 under current procedures, and Ukraine and Germany remain divided over how fast accession should go. The European Commission is due to take up enlargement proposals on 6 October and present accession roadmaps by the end of the month.
Key facts
- Hungary has signalled it will ease its veto on further progress in the EU accession talks of Ukraine and Moldova. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The Financial Times, cited by TASS, Vedomosti, Kommersant and Interfax, reported that Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar instructed diplomats not to block letters to Kyiv and Chisinau about opening two further negotiating clusters. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- TASS, Kommersant and Interfax named the internal market and competitiveness clusters; Vedomosti named the internal market and competitiveness and inclusive growth. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Vedomosti and Kommersant reported that full political support from Budapest depends on Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada passing a law expanding national minority rights in education, with a vote planned for 12 October. [ 3 , 4 ]
- On 29 July Hungary blocked the start of talks with Kyiv on two economic directions, and on 3 September Magyar said Hungary would not support an accelerated accession procedure, according to Vedomosti. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant reported that the European Commission will consider proposals for a new wave of enlargement on 6 October in Strasbourg, that they will be discussed at an EU summit on 15–16 October, and that roadmaps for Albania, Moldova, Montenegro and Ukraine are due by the end of October. [ 4 ]
- On 2 October EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos said Ukraine could not join the EU in 2027 under the current procedure, that no exception would be made for Kyiv, and that she hoped as many negotiating clusters as possible would be opened by the end of 2026, Vedomosti reported. [ 3 ]
- On 4 October Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz failed to narrow positions on accelerated accession, Vedomosti reported, with Merz proposing associate membership without voting rights and Zelensky rejecting it in favour of full membership. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Hungary has signalled it will ease its veto on further progress in the EU accession talks of Ukraine and Moldova. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- The Financial Times, cited by TASS, Vedomosti, Kommersant and Interfax, reported that Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar instructed diplomats not to block the sending of letters to Kyiv and Chisinau about the possible opening of two further negotiating clusters. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The clusters named in the accounts are the internal market and competitiveness. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Vedomosti and Kommersant reported that full political support from Budapest depends on Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada passing a law expanding the rights of national minorities in education, with a vote planned for 12 October. [ 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Hungary has taken a formal decision to lift its veto or has only signalled that it will not block the procedural step. The accounts rest on a Financial Times report citing two officials rather than a cited Hungarian government announcement; outlets describe a signal or an expectation.
- How far the easing extends and whether Budapest will give full political support. Vedomosti and Kommersant report that full support depends on a law on national minority rights in education, with a vote set for 12 October that has not yet taken place.
- When the letters to Kyiv and Chisinau would be sent. The documents say diplomats were instructed not to block the letters but give no timing.
- The exact scope of the negotiating clusters involved. TASS, Kommersant and Interfax name the internal market and competitiveness, while Vedomosti names the internal market and competitiveness and inclusive growth.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Hungary blocked the start of talks with Kyiv on two economic directions, according to Vedomosti. [ 3 ]
- Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said Hungary would not support an accelerated procedure for Ukraine's EU accession. [ 3 ]
- EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos said Ukraine could not join the EU in 2027 under the current procedure and that no exception would be made for Kyiv. [ 3 ]
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz failed to narrow positions on accelerated accession, with Merz proposing associate membership and Zelensky rejecting it. [ 3 ]
- RBC reported that Hungary had signalled it would ease its veto on further progress in the accession talks this week. [ 1 ]
- TASS, citing the Financial Times, reported that Hungary may lift its veto on a stage of the accession talks. [ 2 ]
- Vedomosti reported details of the planned easing, including the condition tied to the 12 October vote. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant reported that Hungary would not hinder the procedural step and set out the EU's coming enlargement calendar. [ 4 ]
- Interfax reported that Budapest is expected to lift its veto from a technical stage of the accession process. [ 5 ]
- RIA Novosti, citing media, reported that Hungary may lift its veto on the accession talks. [ 6 ]
- The European Commission is to consider proposals for a new wave of enlargement at a college meeting in Strasbourg. [ 4 ]
- Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada is scheduled to vote on a law expanding the rights of national minorities in education. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The enlargement proposals are to be discussed at an EU summit. [ 4 ]
- The European Commission is to present roadmaps for the accession of Albania, Moldova, Montenegro and Ukraine. [ 4 ]