The national consultations held in Hungary by Viktor Orban's government on Ukraine's prospects for joining the European Union are not binding, although the European Commission has taken them into account.
This was stated at a briefing in Brussels by the speaker of the European Commission, Guillaume Mercier, Ukrinform reports.
EU Reacts to National Poll in Hungary
Guillaume Mercier stressed that this national survey is not binding.
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“Our position is very clear – we take into account the results of these national consultations. As you know, national consultations are a matter for the authorities of each country. Now Hungary and the Hungarian government must explain what they plan to do with them further,” the European Commission representative explained.
At the same time, Guillaume Mercier noted that Ukraine is showing results in reforms in the most difficult circumstances imaginable.
Today, the European Commission considers that Ukraine meets the criteria to open the first cluster of negotiations on accession to the European Union – the Basics. According to Guillaume Mercier, the European Commission also positively assessed Ukraine's actions and plan regarding national minorities, which is of such concern to Hungary.
The speaker stressed that the European Commission always evaluates the real achievements of countries on the path to accession, and at the moment there are no reasons against opening the first cluster of negotiations – the Framework.
Hungary is against Ukraine's accession to the EU
Earlier, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated that Ukraine's accession to the EU would negatively affect Hungary's interests, in particular, it would allegedly lead to the country's bankruptcy. At the same time, Director of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Gert Jan Koopman emphasized that Orban's statements about Hungary's possible bankruptcy are not confirmed by historical examples.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that according to an opposition poll, about 70% of Hungarians support Ukraine's accession to the European Union.