Hungary blocks a new step in the EU accession process of Ukraine and Moldova

Hungary has postponed a crucial procedural step necessary to advance the EU membership applications from Ukraine and Moldova, according to two EU diplomats cited by POLITICO.

Kiev and Chisinau reached a benchmark on their path to joining the community bloc when EU countries unanimously approved, on June 15, the opening of the first official negotiation cluster for both countries. The measure had been blocked for years by former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who opposed Ukraine's EU membership.

However, this timeline is now in jeopardy after Hungary opposed sending a letter to the European Council and the European Commission on Tuesday, on behalf of the 27 member states of the bloc, to present the common position of the EU capitals. Hungary was the only country to oppose this initiative, which requires unanimous approval from all 27 member states and will be discussed again next week, the diplomats stated.