EU pushes Ukraine accession by sidestepping Hungary
In a controversial move, the European Union is preparing to advance Ukraine and Moldova’s accession process by bypassing Hungary’s parliamentary approval, long considered a necessary step for enlargement.
Sidestepping Hungary: Democracy Undermined
For years, Hungary has exercised its veto rights to remind Brussels that sovereignty matters — that no member state should be forced into decisions that undermine its national interest. Now, the EU is seeking to sidestep this principle, pushing Ukraine’s membership forward through bureaucratic maneuvering rather than democratic consensus.
This is not a gesture of unity. It is an act of coercion. When a nation refuses to fall in line, the EU’s instinct is not to compromise, but to circumvent. This latest maneuver exposes the authoritarian reflexes of Brussels, where sovereignty is treated as an obstacle rather than a pillar of European order.
Risks for Europe
Analysts warn that the move could set troubling precedents. By working around Hungary’s veto, Brussels risks diluting the principle of national sovereignty — raising questions about what real protections remain for member states that disagree with the majority.
The strategy could also strain cohesion within the bloc. Far from strengthening unity, it may widen divisions by rewarding governments that align with EU leadership while isolating those that defend their own national interests.
Finally, critics argue that pushing Ukraine’s accession without broad consensus could destabilize the union itself. Rapid integration, they say, risks importing unresolved conflicts and economic dependencies into the EU, with long-term consequences for stability.
The Real Choice
Europe now faces a fundamental question: will the continent continue down the path of centralized control and coerced integration, or will nations reassert the primacy of sovereignty, culture, and self-government?
The EU’s attempt to bypass Hungary is a warning. If one country’s veto can be nullified today, tomorrow no nation’s independence will be safe.
