EU Council President Michel described the decision to begin accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova as a “historic moment”. “This shows the credibility of Western Union, the strength of Western Union,” Michel said after the decision, which is supported by 26 of the 27 member states.
Hungarian Prime Minister Orban, who opposed this measure, was not present at the time of the vote. Michel was confident that the summit could also reach an agreement on billions of dollars in financial aid for Ukraine “in the next few hours”. Refers to the multi-annual financial framework that extends until 2027.
AP/NTB Scanpix/Cornelius Poppe President Zelensky is satisfied with the EU decision
Von der Leyen: “Strategic decision”
Ukraine and Moldova have long been awaiting a decision on the start of accession negotiations. The European Commission recommended this measure in November, but the European Council has yet to agree. At the time, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen explained that the Commission had done so despite the conditions not yet being met, saying that pending reforms had already been initiated.
Today von der Leyen described the start of talks with Ukraine and Moldova as a “strategic decision”: “This day will go down in the history of the Union. We are proud to keep our promises and we are happy for our partners.”
The European Council decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. #EUCO granted candidate status to Georgia. And the EU will open negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina as soon as the necessary degree of fulfillment of the accession criteria is reached and…
-Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) December 14, 2023
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X (Twitter) about a “victory for Ukraine” and “for all of Europe”. However, the deal came as a surprise. Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán had already announced his resistance. At the start of the summit, all Member States, with the exception of Hungary, committed to starting accession negotiations.
Orban distances himself
In a Facebook video published after the decision, Orban distanced himself from starting negotiations with Ukraine. We worked with each other for eight hours. Hungary did not want to support this wrong decision and therefore abstained. “It is a completely senseless, irrational and wrong decision to start negotiations with Ukraine under these circumstances,” said the head of government.
Hungary will not change its position. However, the other 26 EU countries insisted that this decision be taken. That's why he told his colleagues that they can follow their own path. Orban justified his position with reform demands that Ukraine had not yet met.
APA/AFP/Miguel Medina Prime Minister Orbán is not satisfied with the EU decision
Orban has long threatened to veto the start of accession negotiations and financial aid to Ukraine. He did not back down after the Commission released ten billion euros of around €30 billion in blocked EU aid to Hungary on Wednesday afternoon.
Dealing with Orbán?
Orbán categorically rejected allegations that he intended to use the blockade to free up EU funds for his country, which had been frozen due to constitutional deficits. “This is not a negotiation. This is not a deal,” he said. Hungary stands for principles.
Recently, it was unclear whether there was an agreement with Orban that would exclude new blockades in view of Ukraine's accession process. Before convening the first round of negotiations, the negotiating framework with rules and principles for the talks must be mutually agreed. Hungary could theoretically threaten a blockade again.
O #EUCO A decision was taken to open EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.
I thank everyone who worked to make this happen and everyone who helped. I congratulate all Ukrainians on this day.
I also congratulate Moldova and personally @SanduMaiamd.…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 14, 2023
Regardless, accession negotiations are expected to take many years. Theoretically, a would-be member can never become a member. Accession talks are particularly important for the EU. It ensures that a candidate country incorporates all EU legislation into national law. Ukraine's accession before the end of the war is also considered impossible – among other things because Kiev could then demand military assistance.
Moldova “opens a new chapter”
Moldova's President Maia Sandu welcomed the EU summit's green light for accession negotiations with her country. “The Republic of Moldova opens a new chapter today,” she said. There is still a lot of work ahead, but your country is “ready to face the challenge”.
EU accession negotiations with Ukraine decided
The EU summit in Brussels decided to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. EU Council President Charles Michel announced this on X (Twitter).
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte spoke of “tremendous news” for both countries. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala called the decision an “absolutely decisive message” that the EU was sending. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also welcomed the decision.
NEOS praises the decision, FPÖ criticizes it
From Austria, NEOS and FPÖ commented on the decision at the EU summit. For NEOS leader Helmut Brandstätter, the summit's decision means a “historic day for Europe, for cohesion, for peace and freedom. Europe cannot be divided, despite boastful autocrats like Orban, who only want to sow chaos, but rather come together in times of crisis.”
FPÖ leader Petra Steger said that with the decision the EU was “continuing the spiral of escalation” and that Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) was providing “support”. “This is a fall from grace of the first order. Nehammer knows the expectations of Austrians but is not in a position to implement them, preferring to follow the 'herd instinct' in the EU and obviously takes orders from elites and Eurocrats rather than representing the interests of his own population”, Steger said.