European Council President António Costa warned EU candidate countries and member states to make crucial decisions on enlargement or risk remaining “trapped by painful historical legacies,” as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Hungary’s veto as “specific support” for Vladimir Putin.
“Accession partners must decide if they have the determination to move forward with their European Union transformation or if they prefer to remain trapped by painful historical legacies,” Costa said.
The European Council chief called on the bloc’s 27 members to decide on enlargement or risk losing time.
“The European Union must also decide whether it can afford to lose more time, and if it is ready to evolve and adapt to the current geopolitical realities,” he pointed out.
Costa’s keynote address at Euronews’ Enlargement summit, which kicked off in Brussels on Tuesday, coincided with the European Commission’s release of its latest enlargement report.
Costa is a key negotiator among the member states to secure the unanimity needed to progress in the future membership negotiations of the EU hopefuls.
Notably, Hungary has vetoed Ukraine’s accession, as the government of Viktor Orbán believes it would put Europe in danger.
‘This is not fair’
Zelenskyy, who joined the conference remotely via video link, slammed Budapest’s decision, stating that blocking Ukraine from opening its first cluster of accession negotiations is helping Russia.
“During this war, we did not get any support from him. Support for our vision of life,” Zelenskyy said.
“We wouldn’t like (Premier) Viktor (Orbán) to support Russia because blocking Ukraine in the EU is the very specific support by Viktor to Putin. That is definitely not that good. That is my subjective opinion,” Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian president argued that his country is protecting the whole of Europe from Russia; therefore, “Viktor Orbán has to offer something to Ukraine.”
Zelenskyy said Ukraine is fighting for its existence and would like Hungary to support it, or at least not block Ukraine from opening negotiating chapters.
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos also questioned Hungary’s veto on enlargement, saying that hindering the opening of chapters is ‘not fair.’
“Hungary has given a green light to grant Ukraine the candidate status, and to start negotiations, and now it is blocking. This is not fair,” Commissioner Kos said.
The Commission, together with the European Council, is seeking ways to overcome Hungary’s veto on Ukraine’s accession talks chapters. Kos said it was time for Europe to deliver as well.
“I am full of admiration for what they are delivering, while the bombs fall. But we should deliver too,” Kos said.
The bloc’s enlargement chief said the candidate countries should go on with the reforms despite the political debates in Europe. “They do not need Orbán to do the reforms,” Kos concluded.