Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban may find himself with unexpected support in his efforts to block Ukraine's accession to the European Union. The support comes from countries that do not share his closeness to Moscow but insist on preserving their veto power on EU enlargement, writes Politico, reports BTA.
Ahead of the meeting of EU leaders in Copenhagen on October 1, European Council President Antonio Costa is lobbying for a change in accession rules. His idea is to introduce a qualified majority vote to start formal negotiations, instead of the current requirement for unanimous consent.
However, the proposal is controversial. Orban is known as the EU leader with the closest ties to President Vladimir Putin and the strongest opposition to Ukraine, but other countries have different motives for opposing the changes. Mainly to preserve their veto power.
France, the Netherlands, Greece and Denmark oppose Costa's plan, according to anonymous EU sources. They express concerns that the change would limit their ability to block applications they see as problematic. For example, Greece wants to retain the ability to influence Turkey's membership negotiations, Bulgaria to set conditions for North Macedonia, and Croatia to block Serbia.
Costa's proposal affects not only Ukraine, whose candidacy has been blocked for months, but also Moldova, since their applications are interconnected. If the rules are changed, it could pave the way for talks to begin for both sides.
A senior EU official said the issue would be discussed in Copenhagen alongside another plan to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. Finnish President Alexander Stubb supported the idea, stressing the need for more flexibility and fewer blocking options.
However, there is strong opposition. Leaders who hold the veto as a key instrument of national sovereignty are against the change. This includes countries such as Greece, Bulgaria and Croatia, which use the veto for political purposes on their own strategic issues.
Paris is also opposed to speeding up the process, arguing that such changes would require unanimity from all 27 member states, which currently seems impossible.
Meanwhile, Ukraine and Moldova remain at a standstill. Kiev has made significant reforms, but due to Hungary’s veto, formal talks have not started. The situation is similar for Moldova, and President Maia Sandu has made EU membership a top priority on her political agenda.
Costa's initiative has received support from the European Commission, which has described the current process as too cumbersome. But the political interests and national strategies of individual countries remain a serious obstacle to change.
As diplomats note, behind the formal support for Ukraine lies a complex web of national interests. "The Hungarians are blocking the Ukrainians, but other countries are using this situation to protect their own priorities," says a senior EU official.