BUDAPEST, March 20. /TASS/. Hungary will object Ukraine’s accelerated accession to the European Union at the EU summit on March 20 and 21, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.
"Over the past three years, the war [in Ukraine] cost Hungary 2.5 million forints (around $6,850) per each family and household. If Ukraine joins the European Union right now, direct expenses during the first year will amount to 500,000 forints (around $1,300) per each family. We don’t want to run such a risk, so, we will stick to our position," the MTI agency quoted him as saying.
Hungary has consistently warned that Ukraine's immediate entry into the EU would cause severe harm to the European economy. Furthermore, Budapest believes Ukraine has not fully restored the rights of the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia and continues actions that threaten the energy security of Central Europe. These concerns were raised by Budapest during discussions regarding Kiev's integration into European structures. However, Orban has indicated that he would consider Ukraine's future EU membership if it fulfills all the necessary criteria.