Denmark remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s path to EU membership, despite Hungary’s continued veto blocking formal negotiations. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen suggests finding alternative ways to advance reforms without official talks. Nearly 87% of Ukrainians back a Ukraine EU membership according to a 2024 national poll.
Denmark Pushes Forward on a Ukraine EU Membership Despite Hungarian Block
Denmark has reaffirmed its support for Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union, even as Hungary continues to block formal negotiations. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated that Denmark is exploring alternative pathways to push the process forward and ensure Ukraine can still progress on needed reforms.
This development comes on the heels of Hungary objecting, once again, to the formal opening of negotiation “chapters” with Ukraine, which are required for the EU accession process to proceed.
Hungary Stands Alone in Continued Opposition
The Hungarian government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has consistently opposed Ukraine’s EU membership talks, exercising its veto power as a current EU member. At an informal EU summit hosted in Copenhagen on Wednesday, Orbán rejected a compromise proposal by EU Council President António Costa.
Costa’s proposal sought to bypass Hungary’s opposition by introducing a rule change, which would allow the initiation of negotiation chapters based on a qualified majority vote, rather than requiring unanimous approval. While the plan would have kept the requirement for unanimity to close or finalize the chapters, thus preserving Hungary’s ultimate influence, Orbán still rejected the offer.
This is not the first time Orbán has voiced skepticism about further EU enlargement, particularly involving countries deeply embroiled in ongoing conflicts or political instability. Hungary has also shown close ties with Russia, even as the rest of the EU stands in strong solidarity with Ukraine, further complicating the situation.
Denmark Seeks Workarounds for a Ukraine EU Membership
In response to the ongoing impasse, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has proposed a new, pragmatic solution. Rather than waiting for Hungary to change its stance, Frederiksen suggested that the EU should continue technical and structural reform work with Ukraine, even without officially opening negotiation chapters.
This approach would involve preparing Ukraine for full membership in such a way that, if the political blockage is eventually lifted, Ukraine will already have completed many of the required milestones. This strategy reportedly has support not only in Denmark but also from key headquarters in Brussels.
Denmark currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council, placing it in a facilitating role during critical discussions regarding enlargement policy. The Danish leadership had hoped this would be a breakthrough moment for Ukraine. However, with Hungary holding firm, alternative paths are now being considered.
Ukraine’s Steady Progress
Ukraine officially became a candidate country for EU membership in June 2022. Since then, Kyiv has pushed numerous domestic reforms to meet EU conditions, particularly in areas like anti-corruption, judicial independence, and democratic governance.
According to the European Commission, Ukraine has fully met two out of seven priority reform areas and made substantial progress on the others. Meanwhile, public support for EU membership remains high within Ukraine, nearly 87% of Ukrainians back joining the European Union, according to a 2024 national poll.
Though ongoing Russian aggression continues to destabilize the country, Ukraine’s leadership views a Ukraine EU membership as a critical strategic and symbolic goal, offering both economic opportunities and security guarantees.
Next Steps for the EU
Frederiksen’s suggested workaround, continuing preparatory work without formal chapters, mirrors schemes used in the past with Western Balkan nations, where slow-moving or stalled negotiations persisted for years due to political disagreements.
While this model is not ideal, EU officials consider it better than halting progress altogether. There is also concern in Brussels and other capitals that giving in to Hungary’s leverage could set a precedent that endangers the EU’s long-term enlargement policies.
The coming months will likely see increased diplomatic pressure on Hungary, as well as parallel efforts to keep Ukraine engaged and progressing through structural reform.
Conclusion
Denmark’s unwavering support for Ukraine sends a clear message: EU enlargement, particularly for a country defending democratic values under immense pressure, should not be indefinitely stalled. While Hungary’s veto remains a significant obstacle, Denmark and other EU allies are working to keep Ukraine’s hopes for membership alive, one policy step at a time.
