EU finds alternative route to start accession talks with Ukraine despite Hungary’s veto

Brussels has found a solution that allows accession talks with Ukraine to technically begin, despite Hungary’s veto, opening the door for Kyiv to move forward quickly, reports European Pravda.

Denmark, which will end its EU presidency in just 20 days, had been looking for a way to bypass Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s veto, which has been blocking Ukraine’s progress toward membership.

After months of unsuccessful attempts, the Danish government, together with the European Commission, proposed a “frontloading” format, which allows negotiations to start without formally opening the accession clusters.

On Dec. 11, during a meeting in Lviv, the EU handed Ukraine its negotiating position for three clusters, meaning technical negotiations can now proceed.

Ukraine can already work on and even complete these negotiating clusters, and once Hungary lifts its blockade, their official opening and closing could happen almost simultaneously.

“This opens the path to rapid readiness for accession — but only if Ukraine implements the reforms outlined in the guidance it received today,” European Pravda wrote.

The Danish government is confident that progress will be swift.

“When Hungary’s blockade is lifted — and I am absolutely confident that it will be — we will be able to very quickly open and close these negotiating clusters, confirming that Ukraine is ready to join the EU,” said Danish Minister Marie Bjerre.

Following the start of technical talks, Ukraine and the EU also agreed on a priority ten-point reform plan, which includes anti-corruption measures and strengthening the rule of law.

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