**EU Summit Fails to Unanimously Back Ukraine’s Membership Bid Due to Hungary’s Veto**
The European Council, the governing body of the EU, was unable to reach a unanimous decision in support of Ukraine’s bid for membership during its recent meeting in Brussels. This failure is largely attributed to Hungary, which has once again opposed Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
In preparation for the summit, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government conducted a highly-particized national consultation, which resulted in 95% of participants opposing Ukraine’s EU membership bid. However, this poll has been criticized for its credibility and turnout, raising concerns that Orban may use it to justify future resistance to Ukraine’s EU accession.
The process of registering for the national consultation was also questioned, as Hungarian citizens received their ballot in the post along with a letter from Orban urging them to vote against Ukraine’s membership bid. This has led many to believe that the results of the poll are not an accurate reflection of public opinion, but rather a tool used by the government to justify its opposition.
Despite Hungary’s veto, 26 out of the 27 EU member states reaffirmed Ukraine’s inherent right to choose its own destiny and expressed support for the country’s path towards EU membership. The statement also commended Ukraine for the pace of its accession-related reforms under challenging circumstances and welcomed significant progress achieved.
However, formal negotiations on Ukraine’s EU membership can only begin with the unanimous consent of all 27 member states. This means that Hungary’s veto has effectively blocked any further progress in Ukraine’s bid for EU membership.
**Background: Ukraine’s Bid for EU Membership**
Ukraine applied for EU membership shortly after Russia launched its war in 2022 and was granted candidate status within months. As an EU member, Hungary has veto power over further progress. Ukrainian leaders have been working to implement reforms and demonstrate their commitment to joining the EU.
Hungary’s opposition to Ukraine’s bid is not new, with Prime Minister Viktor Orban publicly stating that allowing Kyiv to join the EU would “destroy” Hungary. Orban’s stance has been widely criticized by other EU member states and Ukrainian leaders.
**Implications of Hungary’s Veto**
The failure to reach a unanimous decision in support of Ukraine’s membership bid highlights the challenges faced by the country in its bid for EU membership. Despite significant progress, Ukraine still faces opposition from some EU member states, including Hungary.
This development has important implications for Ukraine’s future relations with the EU and may impact the country’s ability to join the bloc. It also underscores the need for further diplomatic efforts to address the concerns of those who oppose Ukraine’s bid.
**Next Steps**
The outcome of the European Council meeting means that formal negotiations on Ukraine’s EU membership will not proceed at this time. However, Ukrainian leaders remain committed to pursuing their country’s EU membership bid and are likely to continue working towards implementing reforms and demonstrating their commitment to joining the bloc.
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