Hungary’s FM: EU accession talks with Ukraine meet all criteria in framework document
Hungary’s Criteria Included in EU Framework Document for Ukraine Accession Talks
Hungary’s Foreign Minister, Péter Szijjártó, announced on Facebook that all of the criteria defined by Hungary have been incorporated into the EU framework document drafted for starting accession talks with Ukraine. This news follows heavy debates within the EU regarding the criteria that Brussels should set for initiating these talks.
Szijjártó emphasized Hungary’s position that respecting the rights of national minorities in Ukraine should be a key criterion for any further steps in the accession process. He stressed the importance of restoring the rights of the ethnic Hungarian community, including the preservation of their national identity, the use of their mother tongue, and access to Hungarian language education.
The agreement reached in Brussels on Friday evening was welcomed by Szijjártó, who highlighted that the document now establishes that Ukraine must restore the rights that were taken away from ethnic Hungarians in Transcarpathia in recent years. This was deemed a significant diplomatic success by Hungarian MEP Andrea Bocskor, who represents Transcarpathia in the European Parliament.
Bocskor noted that Ukraine is now required to develop a minority action plan with input from Hungarian representatives and address the issues outlined in the 11 points presented by the Hungarian foreign ministry, which will also be reviewed by the European Commission. Another Hungarian MEP, Viktória Ferenc, expressed her satisfaction that the legal protection of Transcarpathian Hungarians is now officially part of Ukraine’s accession process, turning it into a European issue rather than a bilateral one.
Overall, the incorporation of Hungary’s criteria into the EU framework document signals a positive step towards addressing the rights of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine and furthering the accession talks between the two countries.
