Non-attached MEP Fabio De Masi has asked the European Commission whether it welcomes Hungarian Prime Minister-designate Péter Magyar's proposal to hold a national referendum on Ukraine's EU accession, and what the Commission's general view is on using national referendums to confirm successful accession negotiations. The question, submitted on 20 April 2026, targets the democratic legitimacy of such a move and its compatibility with EU procedures.
De Masi's written question cites Magyar's opposition to an accelerated accession process for Ukraine and his stated intention to hold a referendum in Hungary if negotiations succeed. The MEP asks the Commission to clarify its stance on this specific case and on the broader principle of member states using referendums to ratify accession outcomes.
whether the Commission welcomes Magyar's call for a referendum, and what its view is on member states confirming successful accession talks through national referendums. It does not set numerical targets or deadlines but seeks policy orientation on the interplay between national democratic tools and EU enlargement rules.
De Masi's question implicitly challenges the idea that national referendums could delay or derail a consensus-based EU accession process. By asking for the Commission's view, he probes whether the EU executive sees referendums as enhancing democratic legitimacy or as a potential obstacle to enlargement.
The Commission is required to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will signal whether it supports member states' use of referendums in accession procedures or considers them incompatible with the EU's treaty framework, which typically requires unanimous Council approval and ratification by all member states according to their national constitutional requirements.