EU greenlights accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova after Viktor Orbán lifts veto and abstains

During a high-stakes summit in Brussels, heads of state and government also granted Georgia the status of candidate country, having previously been denied such title.

“It’s a very powerful political signal, it’s a very powerful political decision,” Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, told reporters.

“And today and tonight I think, to the people of Ukraine, we are on their side and this decision made by member states is extremely important for the credibility of the European Union.”

“It was important that no member state would oppose the decision and this is why we were in a position to make this announcement tonight,” Michel added.

The approval represents a geopolitical victory for Kyiv, which is struggling to make inroads in its grueling counteroffensive against the invading Russian troops.

Additionally, the EU will open negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina “once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is reached.” The European Commission will have to report by March on the progress made by the Balkan country to decide the next steps.

Thursday’s breakthrough, achieved during a summit of leaders in Brussels, came amid Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s veto threats and antagonistic rhetoric.

In the days leading up to the meeting, Orbán has questioned Ukraine’s readiness to start negotiations and the Commission’s credibility as an impartial arbiter. After being declared a candidate country in July last year, Ukraine was given seven reforms as a precondition to start the talks. Brussels has said the work is not yet complete but is sufficient to take the process to the next stage, something the Hungarian premier had challenged.

In a short video posted on his Facebook account right after the decision was taken, Orbán doubled down on his antagonistic rhetoric but admitted to having abstained in the crucial vote. An EU official confirmed that the prime minister “was momentarily absent from the room in a pre-agreed and constructive manner” when the vote took place.

“Hungary’s position is clear: Ukraine is not ready to start negotiations on EU membership. It is a completely pointless, irrational and wrong decision to open negotiations with Ukraine under these circumstances, and Hungary is not changing its position,” Orbán said in the video. 

“In contrast, 26 other countries insisted that this decision be taken. This is Hungary, which has decided that if the twenty-six decide to do so, they should go their own way. Hungary does not want to share this bad decision and therefore Hungary has abstained from the decision today.”

The news from Brussels quickly prompted a succession of social media posts celebrating what many leaders described as a “historic day.”

“This is a victory for Ukraine. A victory for all of Europe. A victory that motivates, inspires, and strengthens,” wrote Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who delivered a video message during the summit urging leaders to make a positive decision.

“History is made by those who don’t get tired of fighting for freedom,” he added.

“Moldova turns a new page today with the EU’s go-ahead for accession talks. We’re feeling Europe’s warm embrace today. Thank you for your support and faith in our journey,” said Moldovan President Maia Sandu.

“We’re committed to the hard work needed to become an EU member. Moldova is ready to rise to the challenge,” she added.

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili spoke of a “monumental milestone for Georgia” and the rest of the continent. “The unwavering will of the Georgian people has spoken, leading to the well-deserved attainment of candidate status,” Zourabichvili wrote. “Georgia’s reunification with its European family is an irreversible prospect!”

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said the moment had happened “against all odds,” while her Irish counterpart, Leo Varadkar, said the greenlight “will be a big boost for morale to know that Europe believes their rightful place is with us in our common home.”

Meanwhile, Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission and one of Kyiv’s staunchest supporters, hailed “a strategic decision and a day that will remain engraved” in the bloc’s history. “Proud that we have lived up to our promises and delighted for our partners,” von der Leyen said.

Thursday’s decision is but a first step in a protracted, highly technical process that can span years before leading to full-time membership.

The next task will be to draft a negotiating framework, a detailed document that sets a roadmap for the accession talks, which will have to be endorsed by the 27 member states, also by unanimity. This could happen as soon as March when EU leaders are next scheduled to meet, provided Ukraine has fulfilled the remaining three preconditions.

After settling the matter of enlargement, EU leaders will now dive deep into the negotiations about the revision of the bloc’s common budget, which, crucially, features a €50-billion special fund to provide Ukraine with long-term financial support.

Orbán has equally threatened to derail the fund. 

In his remarks to reporters, Charles Michel set the stage for the impending showdown.

“We continue to work because we are still working on the multi-annual framework. It’s a difficult debate. And I am confident that in the hours to come we will manage to make a decision to be united on this topic,” Michel said.

“We want to support Ukraine with more financial assistance, point one, but we also want to take into account the priorities of the European Union and to adapt our (budget).”