Hungary’s PM announces historic deal moving Ukraine closer to EU membership
Photo: Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar (Getty Images)
In Hungary, it has been announced that an agreement has been reached with Ukraine on the rights of the Hungarian minority, which could influence negotiations on EU accession, said Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar.
According to Magyar, Kyiv and Budapest reached a comprehensive agreement after several weeks of negotiations on expanding the linguistic, educational, cultural, and political rights of the Hungarian community in the Zakarpattia region.
"In three weeks, we managed to achieve what Viktor Orbán and his team were unable to achieve in 10 years," he stressed.
Ukrainian and Hungarian experts, representatives of Hungarian minority political organizations, and churches took part in the negotiations.
Magyar noted that the Ukrainian government agreed to implement the aligned changes to its legislation in the near future. According to him, this will allow the Hungarian community to gain broader rights in education, culture, language use, and political representation.
"Ukraine’s commitments will also be reflected in the action plan that Ukraine must fulfill before the European Union. If this happens, the Hungarian government will agree to open the first cluster of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession," the Hungarian leader added.
What changes does the agreement include?
According to Magyar, Ukraine agreed to restore the system of national minority schools. The Hungarian language will be allowed not only in teaching but also in school documentation and internal communication.
Students will be allowed to freely use Hungarian symbols, perform the Hungarian anthem during ceremonies, use the national flag, and display Hungarian-language inscriptions in educational institutions. Certificates and diplomas will also be issued in Hungarian.
In addition, graduation and entrance exams may be taken in Hungarian, and students will be able to pass a separate exam in the Hungarian language and literature. At the same time, the list of mandatory subjects taught in Ukrainian in minority schools will only be expanded with parental consent.
"The Ukrainian side has guaranteed that national minority schools will be preserved even despite lower enrollment," Magyar stated.
A separate part of the agreement concerns language rights. According to the Hungarian Prime Minister, in settlements where the Hungarian community makes up more than 10% of the population, the free use of Hungarian symbols will be allowed.
Hungarian may also be used in medical services, sports events, scientific conferences, and political activities. In particular, the use of Hungarian in election campaigning, ballot papers, and official information materials is expected.
In addition, members of the Hungarian minority will have the right to freely preserve their traditions, celebrate national holidays, hold cultural and religious events in Hungarian, and establish their own cultural and educational institutions.
Accelerated EU accession for Ukraine
At the same time, Magyar said that Hungary still does not support the accelerated accession of Ukraine to the European Union.
According to him, if Ukraine fulfills all 33 negotiation chapters required for membership, Hungary plans to hold a legally binding referendum on supporting such a decision.
"If Ukraine manages to close all 33 chapters of the accession negotiations within 10 or 15 years, our country will hold a legally binding referendum on this issue," he concluded.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz previously called on the European Union to open the first negotiation cluster on Ukraine’s accession as soon as possible. He stressed that bilateral disputes between Kyiv and Budapest should not block the EU integration process.
On the same day, Péter Magyar’s government lifted its veto on a decision regarding the European Peace Facility, through which EU countries receive compensation for weapons transferred to Ukraine. Kyiv has urged that a portion of the released funds be allocated toward purchasing Patriot systems and their missiles.
