But that schedule is now in jeopardy after Hungary on Tuesday objected to sending a letter to the European Council and the Commission, on behalf of the 27 members of the union, which describes the joint position of the EU capitals. Hungary was the only country to oppose the move, which requires unanimous consent from all 27 and will be discussed again next week, the diplomats said.
A spokesman for the Hungarian Permanent Representation in Brussels did not respond to a request for comment.
The move is in line with Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s positive stance on Ukraine’s membership.
While Magyar did not oppose the opening of the first group of Ukraine, his government insisted on deleting the words “as soon as possible” about Kyiv’s membership of the EU from the written conclusions of the meeting of EU leaders in Brussels last week, according to one of the diplomats.
Both diplomats were not named because they are not allowed to speak on the record in closed-door proceedings.
During a press conference at the end of the European Council meeting last week, Magyar responded twice, telling reporters: “There are six groups in total, and we don’t think opening them all at once is a good idea – partly because the first ink is not yet dry, and partly because it would send the wrong message to the countries of the Western Balkans – Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia. Membership has worked for Montenegro.”
