European Pravda has a lengthy article today on how Brussels has a plan to bypass Hungary’s veto on Ukrainian membership to the EU. “The first legal steps within this plan were already taken by Ukraine and the EU last week, although both sides prefer not to speak about them publicly. However, the main part of ‘Plan B,’ which Brussels refers to as ‘parallel negotiations,’ still lies ahead. It will likely begin only in August or September, once all efforts to persuade Orbán are exhausted.”
The problem, they write, is that it would bypass legalities and “Hungary could mount a legal challenge,” but there may be no other option. European Pravda spoke with more than ten officials from the EU, member states and Ukraine, and reveals the details, challenges and advantages of this “Plan B” on the road to the EU.
On 9 May, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas visited the Ukrainian city of Lviv. Responding to a question from European Pravda, she acknowledged that the EU is preparing for a continued Hungarian veto: “The EU is working on Plan B in case Plan A fails, but I will not disclose it. The process is still underway.” This is in violation of official policy, as explained by a diplomat from one of the EU’s key member states: “Under EU treaties, negotiations for accession to the European Union require clear and unequivocal support from all 27 EU member states for every key step in the process.” Another representative explained: “Some technical processes or discussions may take place, but from a legal standpoint, they mean nothing.”
