Moldova hopes for shift in Hungary’s stance on EU enlargement veto

A change of government in Hungary could influence its position on the enlargement of the European Union, including the accession process of the Republic of Moldova.

This was said by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Moldova, Mihai Popșoi, in a televised interview this evening, CE Report quotes MOLDPRES.

The official emphasized that bilateral relations between Chișinău and Budapest have remained constructive regardless of which political forces were in power.

“The administration in Budapest has never had difficulties in its relations with the Republic of Moldova. On the contrary, we have had solid relations regardless of political changes,” Popșoi said in the Rezoomat program on Realitatea TV.

At the same time, the deputy prime minister expressed hope that the new political context could influence previous positions regarding vetoes at the European level.

“A change of government will have an impact on that veto, or we hope it will have an impact on that veto,” he said.

Referring to the European integration process, the foreign minister noted that Moldova continues its preparations even in the absence of a formal decision to open negotiations.

“We are already working as if we had this green light, in order to move quickly to the next stages,” he stated.

According to Popșoi, the European Commission has positively assessed Chișinău’s progress, noting that Moldova has made the greatest advances among candidate countries over the past year, particularly in foreign policy and energy security.

He also rejected claims of declining European interest, announcing a major upcoming event in Chișinău.

“In the coming weeks we will host a ministerial meeting of the Council of Europe, attended by ministers from most member states,” he said.

Regarding Moldova’s downgrade in international democracy rankings, the official said authorities will analyze the causes and continue reforms.

“It is our responsibility to improve this rating by strengthening democratic institutions and the rule of law,” Popșoi noted.

The Republic of Moldova submitted its EU membership application on March 3, 2022. It obtained candidate status on June 23, 2022, with recommendations to continue reforms. In November 2023, EU assessments confirmed Moldova’s progress and recommended opening accession negotiations, a decision approved by EU leaders in December 2023. Formal negotiations began on June 25, 2024.

In September 2025, Moldova completed bilateral screening with the EU, assessing the compatibility of national legislation with the EU acquis. In mid-December 2025, the country began technical discussions on the first negotiation chapters. Authorities in Chișinău say this stage marks a crucial phase in the accession process and will form the basis for future progress toward EU integration.