Orban rejects Ukraine’s EU path (again): ‘Respect the rules to begin talks’

Brussels – Ukraine cannot join the EU as a member state. The Hungary of Viktor Orban opposes with renewed force the hypothesis of EU membership, which the Hungarian prime minister categorically rejects: “For Ukraine, we are asking for a strategic agreement, it is right to support it, but membership is too much,” he cuts short on his arrival in Copenhagen for the informal summit of the European Council. It is merely a prelude – and a well-known one – to what follows immediately after: the rejection of any shortcuts for the start of negotiating chapters. “There is a rigorous legal procedure and we have to stick to that,” Orban argues again, challenging all partners. 

The informal meeting of heads of state and government is supposed to be an opportunity for the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, to try to open the first negotiating chapters for EU membership by circumventing the unanimity requirement, an issue that no one officially opposes in principle, except Hungary and its Prime Minister, Orban. When the latter refers to compliance with the rules, which, incidentally, are not entirely clear, he implies that he is ready for legal recourse in the event of solutions that the Budapest government considers to violate the same rules. 

Beyond the legal aspects, there is a clear-cut refusal by Orban, who makes no secret of it. “Ukraine does not have the money to support itself. We have to help it. It is a financial fact,” he reminded the press upon his arrival for the meeting. A potential entry of Kyiv into the EU “would bring war into the EU and Europeans’ money to Ukraine.” In short, no way forward.

Orban’s positions clash with those of the other leaders, as summed up by Latvian Premier, Evika Silina, who firmly believes that “we must integrate Moldova and Ukraine, and open cluster 1,” the set of chapters that concern fundamental rights (justice, judiciary, procurement, financial control, and statistics). This is precisely the focus of part of the leaders’ summit, who have to deal with Orban — whose mind, however, is elsewhere, in Prague. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for October 3rd and 4th, and the Hungarian prime minister is eagerly awaiting the vote. “I hope the Czech patriots win. I hope Babis can return” to the government, he says, referring to the ANO leader, Andrej Babis, who is against military support to Kyiv and the accelerated start of Ukraine’s accession.