Sweden has urged the European Commission to provide clear proposals on advancing Ukraine’s EU accession process, following Hungary’s threat to veto Ukraine’s membership, according to reports from Ukraine’s embassy in Sweden.
Hungary’s Foreign Minister, Péter Szijjártó, recently reaffirmed his country’s opposition to Ukraine’s EU accession, citing concerns over the rights of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine’s Transcarpathia region. Despite Budapest’s previous support for starting negotiations, Hungary now insists that Ukraine has not fully addressed minority rights issues.
Ukraine’s embassy in Sweden criticized Hungary’s stance, emphasizing that Hungary should not slow down negotiations on Ukraine’s membership bid.
In response to Hungary’s objections, Sweden’s Minister for EU Affairs, Jessica Rosencrantz, along with officials from other Nordic and Baltic nations, formally reached out to the European Commission, seeking a roadmap to move Ukraine’s EU accession process forward despite opposition from Budapest.
This diplomatic push highlights a growing divide within the EU regarding Ukraine’s future in the bloc, with some member states advocating for swift integration, while others, led by Hungary, continue to demand concessions.
Historical Disputes Over Minority Rights
Tensions between Ukraine and Hungary date back to 2017, when Ukraine’s education law mandated that Ukrainian be the primary language in educational institutions. This provision, while allowing some subjects to be taught in multiple languages, sparked outrage in Hungary, which accused Kyiv of marginalizing Hungarian minorities in the Transcarpathian region.
In December 2023, Ukraine passed legislative amendments aimed at protecting minority rights, following recommendations from the Council of Europe. However, Hungary’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the changes, stating that minority rights had not yet been fully restored to their 2015 status.
Amid escalating tensions, Ukraine’s former Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, announced that Kyiv had reached an agreement with Hungary to establish a joint special commission to resolve disputes concerning the Hungarian national community in Transcarpathia.
While EU leaders prepare for further negotiations, Sweden’s latest move signals a renewed push to overcome Hungary’s resistance and ensure Ukraine’s accession process remains on track.
