BUDAPEST, Dec 6 (Reuters) – Hungary’s ruling party submitted a resolution to parliament on Wednesday calling on the government not to support the start of negotiations on Ukraine’s membership in the European Union (EU), while that Budapest increases pressure on Brussels ahead of a European summit next week.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned that EU leaders may fail to reach consensus on opening accession talks with Ukraine and asked that the issue not be included on the summit agenda scheduled for Brussels on December 14 and 15.
He must be received on Thursday at the Elysée by President Emmanuel Macron to discuss in particular the disputes linked to Ukraine.
“The European Union’s expansion policy must remain an objective process based on rules and results,” says the parliamentary resolution presented by the ruling Fidesz party.
“The start of accession negotiations with Ukraine should be based on a consensus between the member states of the European Union (…) The conditions are not met today.”
European leaders must first carry out a thorough assessment of how Ukraine’s possible membership would affect agricultural policy and cohesion within the bloc, including the EU’s poorest members, including including Hungary, are among the main beneficiaries, the resolution further indicates. (Written by Boldizsar Gyori, Krisztina Than and Gergely Szakacs, Blandine Hénault for the French version, edited by Kate Entringer)
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