Hungary Signals End To Ukraine EU Veto After Minority Rights Deal

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

PARIS/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Hungary suggested Wednesday it is prepared to lift its veto over Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union after an agreement was reached on the rights of ethnic Hungarians living in the war-torn nation.

In a video message from Paris, Prime Minister Péter Magyar said it was symbolic that he could announce the accord near the Palace of Versailles, where Hungary was forced under the 1920 Treaty of Trianon to give up two-thirds of its territory, including territories that are now part of Ukraine, leaving many ethnic Hungarians outside Hungary’s borders.

Magyar said the breakthrough followed several weeks of intensive negotiations between Hungarian and Ukrainian experts, representatives of the Hungarian community in Ukraine’s Transcarpathia region, and church leaders.

The agreement marks a significant shift in Budapest’s policy toward Ukraine and could help remove one of the main obstacles to Kyiv’s long-sought European Union membership aspirations.

HUNGARY CHANGES COURSE

It also represents a reversal of the approach taken by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whose government repeatedly blocked progress in Ukraine’s EU accession process over concerns about the treatment of the Hungarian minority and broader disputes with Kyiv.

Magyar said Ukraine had agreed to expand the linguistic, educational, cultural, and political rights of roughly 100,000 ethnic Hungarians living in Transcarpathia, though official estimates place the number of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine at more than 150,000.

Among the measures announced are the restoration of minority-language schools, expanded use of Hungarian in education and public life, and guarantees allowing Hungarian students to take graduation and university entrance examinations in their native language.

The agreement also foresees broader use of Hungarian in healthcare, public administration, political activities, sporting events, and scientific conferences in communities where ethnic Hungarians make up more than 10 percent of the population.

MINORITY RIGHTS DEAL

Magyar said Ukraine had committed itself to incorporating the agreed measures into its legal framework and action plan related to its European Union accession process.

“If this happens, the Hungarian government will contribute to the opening of the first accession cluster concerning Ukraine,” Magyar said.

The Hungarian leader stressed that support for opening the first cluster of accession negotiations does not amount to unconditional backing for Ukraine’s eventual membership.

He said Hungary continues to oppose any accelerated accession process and insists that Ukraine must meet the same requirements as candidate countries in the Western Balkans.

EU ACCESSION TALKS

According to Magyar, the European Union has agreed to monitor Ukraine’s implementation of the minority-rights commitments throughout the accession process.

He also reiterated that Hungary intends to hold a legally binding referendum before any final decision on Ukraine’s membership if Kyiv eventually completes all 33 chapters of EU accession negotiations.

Ukraine has sought to advance its membership bid despite Russia’s full-scale invasion, arguing that closer integration with European institutions is essential for its long-term security and reconstruction.

The apparent breakthrough comes after years of tensions between Budapest and Kyiv over language and education laws affecting minorities in Ukraine, disputes that repeatedly complicated Ukraine’s relations with both Hungary and the European Union.

The European Union granted candidate status to both Ukraine and Moldova in 2022 and formally opened accession negotiations with the two countries in 2024, although membership remains contingent on meeting extensive political, economic, and legal criteria.

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