EU contemplates abandoning unanimous votes

Hungary's stance on Ukraine's EU accession and the allocation of funds has been a contentious issue in recent times. Hungary has been blocking decisions on Ukraine's accession process and the distribution of funds meant to compensate member states for military aid to Ukraine.

The European Union (EU) is currently discussing the possibility of abandoning the principle of unanimity to expedite decision-making. This move could potentially bypass Hungary's veto power and speed up the process.

Hungary is withholding 6.6 billion euros from a fund intended to compensate member states for military aid to Ukraine. This action has raised concerns among EU members, as the funds are crucial for supporting Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

Despite these obstacles, there is hope that the "stalemate" around Ukraine's accession to the EU will be resolved in the coming months. Two diplomats have expressed optimism about a resolution, citing political signals from Germany, France, and Poland, who openly support Moldova and Ukraine's EU accession.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has called for renewed momentum for the EU enlargement process, including Ukraine, Moldova, and Western Balkan countries. Croatia is expected to play a key role as a mediator in this process. A formal decision on initiating accession negotiations ("negotiating framework") for Moldova and Ukraine could be imminent in the next days or weeks, reflecting these political signals, although no exact date has been publicized yet.

However, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has emphasized that Budapest still opposes Ukraine's accession to the EU. This stance was reaffirmed on August 30.

On August 29, Hungary refused to join the EU's statement condemning attacks on Ukraine. This action further solidified Hungary's position as a stumbling block in the EU's efforts to support Ukraine.

According to a report by Politico on August 27, U.S. President Donald Trump managed to convince Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to change his position on Ukraine's accession to the EU. However, the impact of this alleged conversation on Hungary's current stance remains to be seen.

In the coming days or weeks, a decision to open a "negotiation cluster" for Moldova and Ukraine's accession to the EU could be made. This decision would mark a significant step forward in the EU's enlargement process, despite Hungary's ongoing opposition.