Budapest expresses concern over sentiment for Ukraine’s full integration into the EU economy prior to its accession to the bloc.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that several participants in the EU Council meeting on foreign affairs advocated for opening all chapters of negotiations regarding Ukraine’s accession to the EU this year. Furthermore, the EU Commissioner proposed an “impressive idea”: to implement the country’s full economic integration even before its official accession to the EU.

He also noted that nearly all EU countries and Brussels are applying significant pressure on the Hungarian government to expedite Ukraine’s accession to the EU. Szijjártó reportedly “made it clear” that this issue can only be decided by Hungarian citizens and reminded them of the thematic consultative vote for Hungarians in April and May.

At the same time, the leader of the opposition Hungarian party Tisza, Peter Magyar, has announced that among 1.1 million surveyed citizens, 58.18% supported Ukraine’s EU accession.

The EC clarified that Ukraine’s economic integration before obtaining full membership would involve a gradual entry into the EU single market, along with the alignment of Ukraine’s national legislation with European standards.