What's Happening?
The European Commission is moving forward with Ukraine's EU membership process at a technical level, despite Hungary's veto on official accession talks. Under the new plan, Ukraine will continue implementing
reforms to meet EU eligibility criteria, with EU staff assessing Kyiv's progress in aligning with the bloc's standards. This move circumvents Hungary's opposition, allowing the process to advance unofficially. However, Hungary's support will still be required for any final decisions on Ukraine's membership, as unanimous approval from all current EU members is necessary for new countries to join.
Why It's Important?
The advancement of Ukraine's EU membership bid, despite Hungary's veto, reflects the EU's commitment to supporting Ukraine amid ongoing conflict with Russia. This development is significant as it demonstrates the EU's willingness to adapt its processes to accommodate geopolitical realities and support countries facing external aggression. The move also highlights the challenges of achieving consensus within the EU, particularly when individual member states have differing political agendas. The outcome of this process could have broader implications for EU enlargement policies and the bloc's ability to respond to geopolitical crises.
