At war with Russia since 2022, Ukraine’s aspirations to join the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) at the same time raise some concerns for Hungary. First of all, Hungary states that the EU’s enlargement process has become highly politicized. Moreover, Hungary has great concerns about the Hungarian minority living in the Transcarpathian region in western Ukraine. Hungarians in this region are an important part of Ukraine’s minorities and the Hungarian government advocates the protection of their rights. Disagreements over minorities have led to tensions between Hungary and Ukraine.
On the other hand, Hungary has historically cooperated with Russia and Ukraine’s conflict with Russia has been an issue that Hungary has carefully monitored in its foreign policy. While Hungary generally aligns with other countries in the EU, it often takes a more independent line in direct relations with Russia.
Hungary’s ruling Fidesz Party has in recent years submitted a draft resolution to parliament calling on it not to support the start of Ukraine’s accession negotiations to the EU. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban warned that EU leaders might not be able to reach a consensus on opening accession negotiations with Ukraine and criticized the politicization of the process. “The European Union’s enlargement policy should remain an objective process based on rules and performance,” the Fidesz party argued, underlining that the opening of negotiations with Ukraine should be based on a consensus among EU member states.[1]
For a country to join the EU, unanimity of all EU member states is required. This gives Hungary a strong veto power. Hungary has taken a balanced line in the Russia-Ukraine war, complicating Western efforts to support Ukraine. The Budapest Government has stated that they need to make a comprehensive assessment of how Ukraine’s possible accession would affect policies within the bloc.[2]
The large-scale entry of grain from Ukraine into the EU in 2022-2023 sparked protests by farmers in Eastern Europe. In this context, Polish truckers called on the government to reinstate permits that limit the transit of goods from Ukraine.
According to critics, Orban’s government is trying to use the Russian-Ukrainian war to put pressure on Brussels in order to regain access to billions of euros in funding. Brussels is concerned about human rights and democracy in Hungary. The European Commission, the EU’s executive body, has stopped paying almost 22 billion euros in funds to Hungary. Hungary has maintained ties with Moscow even when the EU imposed sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine.[3]
The warnings of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the anti-Ukrainian stance of the Fidesz Party illustrate the complexity of European politics. Hungary emphasizes that it has a veto against Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations. This shows that Hungary plays a strong role in foreign policy and actively fights against issues that could harm its national interests.
Hungary states that EU leaders should assess the implications of Ukraine’s potential accession on the EU’s agricultural policies. This reflects economic concerns, especially for countries such as Hungary, which is among the poorer members of the EU. In particular, he emphasizes that large-scale grain imports from Ukraine in the past have led to protests among Eastern European farmers, resulting in the closure of border crossings. On the other hand, Hungary’s continued warm relations with Russia weakens the impact of EU sanctions against Moscow.
Critics accuse Orban of using his stance on Ukraine as a kind of tool to access EU funds. Ultimately, this highlights the strategic role Hungary plays in political interactions within the EU.
[1] “Hungary Ruling Party Moves to Oppose Ukraine’s Entry into EU”, Al Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/6/hungarys-ruling-party-submits-resolution-opposing-ukraines-eu-accession, (Accessed Date: 12.31.2024).
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
