Hungary ties EU talks to rights of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has made further discussions about Ukraine's accession to the EU contingent on the restoration of rights for the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia. The politician accused Kyiv's authorities of straying from "European principles and values."
What do you need to know?
- Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has made further negotiations on Ukraine's EU accession conditional on addressing the status of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine's Transcarpathia.
- Szijjarto accuses Kyiv's authorities of deviating from "European principles and values."
- Hungary is the only EU country that did not adopt provisions for further support of Ukraine during the last EU summits in Brussels.
Why is Hungary setting conditions?
Szijjarto announced on Saturday in a Facebook post that he broached the topic of the Hungarian minority's status in Ukraine during a phone conversation with Austria's Foreign Minister, Beate Meinl-Reisinger. The head of Hungarian diplomacy expressed that for Kyiv to address this matter is essential for starting the next stage of negotiations regarding Ukraine's EU accession.
The minister accused the Ukrainian authorities of not restoring the rights that the Hungarian minority in Ukraine lost in 2015, despite promises. "Such a situation is unacceptable and is entirely contrary to European principles and values," wrote Szijjarto.
In 2001, 150,000 Hungarians lived in Transcarpathia
On March 20, three days ago, Hungary, as the only EU member, did not adopt provisions for further support of Ukraine during the EU summit in Brussels. A similar situation occurred on March 6, during a previous meeting of Community leaders.
According to the 2001 census, about 150,000 Hungarians lived in Ukraine's Transcarpathia at that time. There is currently a lack of precise data, but some estimates suggest the Hungarian community in this region may have decreased by even half.
