McEntee welcomes breakthrough in EU accession for Ukraine and Moldova

Wed, 03 Jun, 2026 - 22:17

Cormac O’Keeffe

Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee has welcomed a breakthrough in EU accession negotiations for Ukraine and Moldova after a two-year deadlock in the procedure.

The new Hungarian government dropped its objection to Ukraine’s bid to join the EU, removing the veto that had been placed by the previous Orban administration.

Euronews reports that the sudden development this evening occurred during a meeting of ambassadors in Brussels, according to diplomats.

The media outlet said the Hungarian envoy signalled the reversal of the country’s position, allowing the 27 member states to reach the necessary unanimity to take the procedural steps.

"This positive development sends a strong message of unity and determination," a spokesperson from Cyprus, the country that chaired the meeting, said.

Cyprus currently holds the EU Presidency, which it will hand over to the Irish Government on July 1 for the remaining six months of 2026.

The reversal in Hungary’s veto follows the defeat last April of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in elections by Péter Magyar, who promised to restore ties between Hungary and Ukraine.

In a video posted on Facebook, Mr Magyar confirmed progress made in consultations with Kyiv over the rights of the Hungarian minority in the eastern region of Transcarpathia.

EU's Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said on X. "Prime Minister Magyar's announcement of the agreement between Hungary and Ukraine to advance minority rights opens the way for progress on the EU accession path of Ukraine."

The start of the next phase of membership negotiations could start later this month and, most likely, continue during Ireland’s presidency.

This could place the Irish State under hybrid pressure from Russia as it attempts to derail Ukraine joining the EU.

In a statement, Ms McEntee said: “I welcome today’s decision to officially launch EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. This is a historic milestone and a clear signal that the future of both countries lies within the European Union family.

“The people of Ukraine and Moldova have demonstrated determination and commitment to reform, often in the most challenging of circumstances. Their progress reflects a deep commitment to democracy, the rule of law and the values that underpin our Union.”

She said both countries are engaged in the hard work of reform, in extraordinary circumstances, and deserve the opportunity to join the European Union.

“There is renewed momentum and unity in the European Union, and Ireland is ambitious to play its role as a member state that formed part of the first enlargement and as incoming Presidency of the Council.”

The minister added: “I warmly congratulate the people of Ukraine and Moldova on reaching this important stage and commend my EU colleagues for the unity, leadership and confidence they have shown as we move forward together.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently lobbied for membership negotiations to start as the country continues to resist a full-scale Russian invasion, which started four-and-a-half years ago.

The lengthy process of accession entails six different stages, or “clusters”, with a total of 33 “chapters”.