EU Developing Mechanism for Ukraine Accession Talks Bypassing Orban Veto

Brussels is developing an alternative scenario for negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU, bypassing Hungary - the first steps in its implementation have already been taken, although they prefer not to officially report it.

The Gaze reports on this with reference to European Pravda.

As the publication has learned, the EU is actively discussing the so-called ‘Plan B’, which would allow it to start negotiations with Kyiv, even if Budapest continues to block the adoption of a joint decision.

Sources in Brussels confirm that some legal actions under this plan were taken last week, although they have not been officially reported.

The main part of the alternative plan, which Brussels calls ‘parallel negotiations,’ is still to come. It could be launched in August or September if diplomatic efforts to persuade Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban fail.

The idea is to make the most of the flexibility of EU law. Where unanimity is not required, Ukraine will be able to continue its technical and legal steps towards membership. And where the consent of all members is required, the 26 EU countries (all except Hungary) will conduct ‘parallel negotiations’ with Kyiv, synchronised as far as possible with the talks with Moldova, to maintain the impression that the package deal is still in place.

Although the ‘parallel track’ with Ukraine will have no legal weight, its political significance is very high.

At the same time that Moldova and the EU announce the opening of the first cluster (or clusters) of negotiations, Ukraine and the 26 EU states should issue an official statement that Ukraine has also completed all work on the same clusters and that all EU states, except Hungary, will negotiate with Kyiv on the relevant chapters.

According to several EU sources, it is even possible to convene intergovernmental conferences with Ukraine - a working body whose decisions are crucial in the enlargement process. The negotiating framework for Ukraine approved by the EU does not require unanimity to convene a conference and even obliges the EU to do so from time to time.

There is also an idea that some of the conferences could be held jointly for Ukraine and Moldova.

For Moldova, these conferences could end with a recognition that Chisinau has fulfilled the next set of conditions and the EU is taking legal steps towards membership, and for Ukraine, with a political recognition of the same fulfilment and a statement that the only obstacle to legal progress is the Hungarian veto.

The idea behind the ‘parallel talks’ is that later, when Budapest's position changes - or the government changes - Kyiv can quickly catch up.

Read more: Hungarian Occupation of Brussels