Even so, Austria's unwavering commitment to solidarity with Ukraine remains

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer has issued strong statements against a "fast-track procedure" for the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the European Union, according to a statement by the Austrian Parliament. Nehammer stressed that Austria does not support negotiations under current conditions and rejected any preferential treatment for Ukraine, comparing the situation to the accession negotiations of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In a meeting with members of the Austrian parliament's EU relations committee, the chancellor argued that internal reforms within the EU were essential before discussing enlargement. He noted that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had not consulted with member states before announcing the prospects for accession negotiations for Ukraine, reports Digi24. 

However, Nehammer underlined Austria's continued commitment to solidarity with Ukraine, stressing the need for financial support to support the country as a whole. With a similar position to Hungary and Slovakia, Austria is opposed to an accelerated procedure for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.

The Chancellor added that both countries should be offered the prospect of membership as a sign of solidarity, but the Austrian government opposes a fast-track approach. This stance reflects differences within the EU over enlargement, with Hungary threatening to block financial support for Ukraine and opposing its entry into the bloc. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also warned of the possibility of a lack of consensus among European leaders on starting accession negotiations with Ukraine, suggesting that the issue should not be on the agenda of the EU summit.