EU Considers Rule Changes to Accelerate Ukraine’s Membership Amid Hungary’s Obstruction

The European Commission is currently considering options to update EU accession rules, particularly in light of the fact that Ukraine’s path to membership is being slowed by Hungary.

According to European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier, when a country meets membership criteria but progress stalls for reasons beyond its control, trust in the entire enlargement process may be at risk.

“the trust in the entire enlargement process is at risk”

If emphasis is placed on greater weight of decisions by a qualified majority when it comes to joining the EU, the Commission, in its policy on enlargement reviewed last year, noted that in line with the conclusions of the European Council and the call to accelerate the process, the enlargement process itself could be revisited.

“If we place greater emphasis on the qualified majority when it comes to joining the EU, the Commission in its policy review on enlargement published last year stated that in line with the European Council’s conclusions and the call to accelerate the accession process, the enlargement process itself could be revisited”

It is also emphasized: the possibility of transferring to the Council of the EU the power to make decisions by a qualified majority may touch only intermediate stages, while:

“The completion of the negotiation chapter must continue to be adopted unanimously by all member states, as the final decision on the actual accession also has to be taken unanimously. But we have started discussions and stated that we can consider this issue, but, I reiterate, the final decision is the prerogative of the member states”

According to Politico, European Council President António Costa is trying to “secure the backing of EU capitals to streamline the accession process for new members and to break the deadlock over potential membership for Ukraine and Moldova”.

“Closing the cluster will still require the support of all EU capitals, but a lower threshold to start negotiations will allow Ukraine and Moldova to begin reforms necessary to demonstrate progress toward EU standards in key policy areas. As a result, they could push their membership bids even if one or two countries oppose”

Ukraine’s Path to the European Union

On February 28, 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a declaration on Ukraine’s accession to the EU under a special procedure.

On June 23, 2022, the European Council at the Brussels summit granted Ukraine candidate status, after which Kyiv undertook to implement reforms in the rule of law, transparency, and the fight against corruption.

On September 26, 2023, former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that at the government level the European Commission’s recommendations had been fully implemented and Ukraine was ready for the next step.

On November 8, 2023, the European Commission recommended that the Council of the European Union begin negotiations on Ukraine’s EU membership.

On June 21, 2024, the EU Council reaffirmed the previously approved mandate for negotiations with Ukraine, and the negotiations themselves began on June 25 in Luxembourg.

Despite obstacles from some member states, Ukraine continues to move forward, pursuing the necessary reforms and aligning its actions with the EU to bring it closer to the standards of the European single space.