Hungary to oppose Ukrainian Euro-integration, foreign minister says
27 September 2017
The Hungarian government will oppose Ukraine’s
attempts to integrate with the European Union following President Poroshenko
signing a law on education that restricts primary elementary instruction in all
foreign languages, including Hungarian, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said
in an interview with the eurointegration.com.ua news site published on Sept.
26. He called the president’s decision “shameful,” adding that Ukraine “can
forget about integrating into Europe.” The law violates EU conventions and
“Hungary will block any initiatives, advantageous for Ukraine, in international
organizations, particularly the EU,” said a statement issued the same day by
the Hungarian Foreign Ministry. As their position, Ukrainian authorities said
the education law is consistent with EU standards and will submit it for review
to the Council of Europe.
Zenon Zawada: We are
confident Hungary’s hostile gesture is in coordination with the Kremlin, which
is exploiting the Ukrainian government’s reasonable attempts to consolidate its
multiethnic society under a common language. Ties between Russia and Hungary’s
nationalist government tightened this year following a meeting with the
nations’ two leaders in February.
the EU has worked rather well, considering the success of the 2016 Dutch
referendum in delaying Ukraine’s EU accession. We expect Putin will have more
success as the EU bureaucracy continues to fuel support for nationalist parties
with its policies accepting large numbers of migrants – in addition to other
unpopular policies – and punishing those who criticize them.
