The EU begins membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.
The decision was made after Viktor Orbán left the room.
“By not participating, the Prime Minister of Hungary did not have to make any decision at all,” writes Ritva Rönnberg, TV4 Nyheternas’ broadcast reporter at the summit in Brussels.
How did it happen when the decision was made today?
To resolve the difficult issue of Ukraine’s and Moldova’s membership negotiations, Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary, was offered to leave the room with the other 26 EU leaders. Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of Germany is supposed to be the one who agreed with him that he could waive the decision instead of stopping it. By not participating, the Prime Minister of Hungary did not have to make any decision at all.
This way of making a unanimous decision without a yes or no from Hungary solved the difficult knot for the whole EU. More details will surely be released about how and why the decision could be made with Orbán outside the room.
Why do you think Hungary gave in?
No other EU leaders were prepared to send the signal to Washington, Tehran and Moscow that the EU cannot agree to support Ukraine. Viktor Orbán could not change his mind, he has been propagandizing for several weeks in his home country to stop Ukraine from now being allowed to start negotiations on membership in the EU.
Now you can use the well-worn expression that face is saved both in the EU and in Hungary. You can also see that this way of handling the issue means that Viktor Orbán does not have to stand as the historical traitor towards Ukraine. Several European leaders, such as Poland’s new Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda and others, came out hard against Orbán in their comments during the morning. Hungary risked parts of its international reputation if the decision was stopped.
Why is this decision coming now?
Now the question would arise. Other leaders in the EU agree on that, among other things because it means a great deal to Ukraine that the process is being carried forward. Ukraine needs to strengthen its collective morale, the country needs to know that it is not fighting in vain against the goal of integration with the West.
Negotiations are now to begin – what does the timetable look like?
We don’t know anything about the schedule yet. It may take a long time and right now it seems unlikely that membership can become a reality as long as the war continues. Most countries have to negotiate for several years before membership becomes a reality.