Nicosia, Cyprus. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha thanked Cyprus on Thursday for its efforts to advance Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, as prospects increased for the bloc to approve the start of accession negotiations this month.
Support for accession process
Sybiha said in a social media post that he thanked the Cyprus presidency for its leadership in advancing Ukraine’s EU accession process, with Cyprus holding the Council of the EU’s rotating presidency since the beginning of the year.
He also thanked all EU member states, the European Commission, and EU institutions for their support.
Reference to Hungary
Sybiha made special reference to Hungary, which appears likely to lift its veto on the opening of negotiations with Ukraine after an agreement was reached regarding the rights of ethnic Hungarians living in western Ukraine.
He said he appreciated Hungary’s constructive engagement and described the development as the opening of a new chapter in Ukraine-Hungary relations built on respect, trust, and a shared European future.
Agreement on minority rights
Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said on Wednesday that a comprehensive agreement had been reached expanding the linguistic, educational, cultural, and political rights of more than 100,000 members of the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia.
He said the Ukrainian government had committed to incorporating the agreed measures into the legal system in the near future and that the Hungarian minority would enjoy broader educational, cultural, linguistic, and political rights than before.
Magyar added that these commitments would also be included in Ukraine’s action plan submitted to the European Union, and said that if this happens, the Hungarian government would support the opening of Ukraine’s first accession cluster.
Cyprus presidency outlook
The developments follow comments by Cypriot European Affairs Deputy Minister Marilena Raouna, who told the Cyprus Mail that she was cautiously optimistic that the EU’s 27 member states could agree this month to begin accession negotiations with both Ukraine and Moldova.
Raouna said enlargement remains one of the key priorities of the Cyprus presidency of the Council of the EU and that work was continuing toward that goal.
She said nothing had been concluded yet, but added that there was cautious optimism that the next general affairs council could reach an agreement to open cluster one.
Requirement for unanimity
An agreement to open negotiations for a candidate country to join the EU requires unanimity among member states, meaning all 27 must agree if the matter is put forward at the next general affairs council in Brussels on June 16.