Empty Responses from the European Commission Despite Its Examination of Ukraine

At the initiative of MEP Viktória Ferenc, the Fidesz–KDNP delegation submitted a written question to the European Commission on Ukraine’s revised Action Plan on the Protection of the Rights of Persons Belonging to National Minorities (Communities), which incorporates the 11-point requirements. The delegation asked Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos to confirm the authenticity and publication date of the revised Action Plan and to explain how the Commission intends to ensure the implementation of the commitments undertaken by Kyiv under the Action Plan. Viktória Ferenc, MEP of Fidesz–KDNP and member of the Patriots for Europe Group, stressed: “We are witnessing cluster after cluster being opened in Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations after the Tisza government lifted Hungary’s veto in exchange for Ukrainian promises. However, even after a month and a half, the revised Action Plan that formally sets out Ukraine’s commitments on minority rights is still not available. In response to the question regarding the exact date of its publication, Commissioner Marta Kos—whose portfolio includes monitoring Ukraine’s reform process and progress—claimed that the rules governing the publication of the revised Action Plan fall within the competence of the Ukrainian government and are subject to its internal procedures. This means that either she herself does not know when the document will be published—if it is published at all—or she is unwilling to comment on the matter.”

“We have good reason to be concerned, as shortly after the Hungarian–Ukrainian agreement, Ukraine’s Language Ombudsman instructed school heads, in a letter, to use the state language instead of minority languages at school sporting events. We also brought this to the attention of the Enlargement Commissioner, as despite the agreement, Ukraine continues to restrict the language rights of its national minorities. And although the Commission’s reply states that it continues to monitor closely the situation of national minorities in Ukraine, given that minority rights are among the fundamental requirements for EU accession, the incident has had no consequences whatsoever: no one has apologised to the national minorities, who, in addition to enduring the war, have had to suffer the erosion of their fundamental rights for years,” added the MEP of Transcarpathian origin.

Viktória Ferenc pointed out: “The Commission’s bias in favour of Ukraine is obvious. According to its reply, Ukraine will continue to properly and effectively fulfil the commitments set out in the updated Action Plan, even though the document itself has still not been made public. I hope that the supposedly positive results of the expert-level talks will become a reality and help improve the everyday lives of the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia.”