By John Q. Hosedrinker 
At an EU General Affairs Council meeting, a workaround for technical negotiations with Ukraine was announced to bypass Hungary’s veto, according to European Pravda. This new process, spearheaded by Danish and EU officials, allows Ukraine to continue its reform process through “frontloading,” ensuring progress even without officially opening Cluster 1. While unanimity is still needed for official chapter closure, this approach allows for the continuation of negotiations, supported by 26 member states. The technical process has been launched for Clusters 1, 2, and 6, and Cyprus, the next EU presidency, is expected to continue this process.
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EU Finds Workaround for Hungary’s Veto, Moving Ukraine Closer to EU Membership
So, the situation with Ukraine and its path to EU membership is heating up, and it’s understandable to have some questions, right? It seems the EU has found a way to sidestep Hungary’s potential veto on the initial steps toward Ukraine’s membership. This is a clever move because it allows the groundwork for Ukraine’s accession to proceed without getting stuck in a political quagmire. Basically, they can start the preliminary work, the reforms and such, without Hungary being able to block it.
However, the real test comes later. The comments clearly state that the final decisions, the actual closure of negotiation chapters, still require unanimous agreement from all member states. This is where Hungary, with its current stance and potential allies within the EU, could still throw a wrench into the works. Think of it like this: the first phase is like getting the blueprints ready, but the final build requires everyone to sign off on it.
Now, some folks are optimistic that by the time the final vote rolls around, maybe Hungary’s political landscape will shift, perhaps with a change in leadership. It’s true that the years it takes for the various clusters that potential members have to go through gives time for the political cards to change in the EU. There is also the acknowledgement that Hungary is far from the only Russian sympathizer in power within the EU. But then there’s the elephant in the room – the Russian sympathizers, and the lingering influence of those who might be hesitant about Ukraine’s full integration.
It’s crucial to remember that some individuals might be swayed by the promise of concessions from the EU. The key thing here is that many of the Russian sympathizers may not actually be committed to their view, but are more driven by greed. It is also good to remember that in the past, Russia had political ideology that its allies actually believed in, whereas today, Russia only generates terror, and therefore no longer has any allies that they can trust.
So, while the new process allows Ukraine to move forward, the final hurdle, the unanimous vote, remains. This means that Ukraine’s journey to membership might still face obstacles down the road. It seems the EU is betting that the Russian sympathizers will be kicked out, and if the war continues, they are probably right.
It is worth noting that Ukraine’s bid for EU membership preceded the full-scale Russian invasion, not the other way around. This highlights the complex political dynamics at play.
Of course, the debate also extends to the aftermath of the war. There’s the crucial issue of returning invaded territories, protecting Ukrainian citizens, and addressing the immense reparations for the damage inflicted. Acknowledging that the issue is now more stable because it is clear that Ukraine seeks EU membership.
It seems that the EU’s response to Ukraine’s initial request to join was not the most enthusiastic. However, Ukraine’s government has been pro-EU of late, and past Ukrainian governments were under Russia’s influence. One can infer that it was the fear of offending Russia that prevented NATO and the EU from making any moves prior to the invasion.
It is easy to see that there are many people, even in the EU, who view Ukraine’s corruption as a barrier to its inclusion in the EU. There is the issue of not wanting to offend Russia. And, for many, the blame lies on Vladimir Putin and his desire to re-establish the Russian Empire.
As the comments point out, the invasion started after Ukraine’s revolution against Putin’s puppet, and NATO and the EU failed to act proactively. Some EU members may have hoped Ukraine would fall quickly.
The EU’s actions in the past towards Ukraine leave much to be desired. Countries like Germany and France, in particular, should be criticized for their post-Soviet diplomacy, which enabled Putin.