The European Commission, in a written answer on 25 June 2026, stated that the ratification of an EU accession treaty is a matter for each Member State's constitutional requirements, implicitly acknowledging that Hungary could hold a referendum on Ukraine's accession. The answer, provided by Commissioner Kos on behalf of the Commission, responded to a question from MEP Fabio De Masi (NI), who had asked whether the Commission welcomed Hungarian Prime Minister-designate Péter Magyar's call for a national referendum on Ukraine's EU membership. The Commission did not express a view on the desirability of such a referendum but simply reiterated the legal framework: Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union requires that an accession agreement be ratified by all Member States 'in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements'. This leaves the door open for Hungary to use a referendum as part of its ratification process, should its constitution allow it.
The answer contains no concrete proposals, numerical targets, or deadlines, and offers no political endorsement or criticism of the referendum idea. It is a purely legal clarification. The Commission's neutral tone suggests it is deferring to national sovereignty on the ratification method, while not engaging with the broader political debate on Ukraine's accelerated accession. No immediate institutional follow-up is expected, as the matter concerns a future hypothetical scenario.
The answer impacts EU enlargement policy by confirming that individual Member States can introduce additional democratic hurdles, such as referendums, which could slow or block accession. This may affect Ukraine's accession prospects, EU unity on enlargement, and the balance between supranational integration and national sovereignty. For Hungary, it provides legal cover for a potential referendum; for Ukraine, it adds uncertainty; for other Member States, it sets a precedent that could be used to demand similar national votes.