Ukraine: Zelensky promulgates law on minority languages, requested by Budapest

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday signed into law a law strengthening the linguistic rights of national minorities in education, a reform demanded by Hungary as a condition for progress in Ukraine's EU membership negotiations.

The text aims in particular to "expand the possibilities of using the languages ​​of national minorities of Ukraine, which are official languages ​​of the European Union, and the languages ​​of the indigenous peoples of Ukraine in the educational process and communication within educational establishments", according to the Ukrainian Parliament. The law was promulgated on Monday after being voted on during the day by 266 deputies, more than the required majority.

“Decisive progress”

Earlier, Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar welcomed a “good sign” after the adoption of the text by the Ukrainian Parliament. “There is still much to be done for relations to improve again and trust to be restored on both sides but I believe that the leaders of both countries have taken the first steps towards a resolution of the situation,” he told parliament. European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, for her part, welcomed a “decisive step forward” and deemed it “essential” for Ukraine to “advance the reforms” requested of it.

“Despite Russia's continued attacks on civilians, we are determined to continue moving forward together to prepare for Ukraine's future within our Union,” she said. The vote on this law responds to one of Budapest's main demands, which linked the progress of Ukraine's accession negotiations to better respect for the rights of the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia, a region in the west which is home to a large Hungarian-speaking population.

A half-hearted opening by Peter Magyar

In 2017, the adoption of a law imposing Ukrainian as the main language of secondary education pushed the government of former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, close to Moscow, to block discussions on Ukraine's accession to the EU. But with the coming to power of a pro-European government majority led by Peter Magyar, Hungary lifted its veto on the opening of discussions in June, while continuing to accuse kyiv of not fully implementing the commitments made to the Hungarian community.

This measure was “a necessary condition” for the continuation of talks for Ukraine's entry into the EU, Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban insisted earlier during a meeting in Luxembourg. His Ukrainian counterpart, Andriï Sybiga, estimated that this law could allow the EU to give the official green light on Tuesday in Luxembourg to two new negotiating groups with Ukraine and Moldova.