Hungary blocks next steps in Ukraine's EU accession talks, days after two chapters advance
Hungary has blocked procedural steps toward opening the final two negotiating clusters in Ukraine's and Moldova's accession talks with the European Union, Suspilne reported on October 20, citing an EU official.
The objection came during a meeting of the EU working group on enlargement, just a week after the bloc formally opened two other clusters in Ukraine's accession negotiations.
The remaining clusters cover the green agenda and sustainable connectivity (Cluster 4), and resources, agriculture and cohesion policy (Cluster 5).
"One member state was unable to give the green light to sending the usual letters," the EU official told Suspilne, referring to invitations for candidate countries to submit their negotiating positions.
Separately, Poland wants changes to the EU's common negotiating position on Cluster 5, which covers agriculture, according to Suspilne. The position had previously been approved by 26 member states while Hungary's former government was blocking the opening of all negotiating clusters.
On October 13, the EU formally opened Cluster 2, covering the internal market, and Cluster 3, covering competitiveness and inclusive growth.
The breakthrough followed Ukraine's adoption of legislation concerning education in national minority languages, which Hungary had demanded as a condition for advancing the accession process.
Ukraine and the EU had previously opened Cluster 1, covering fundamentals, and Cluster 6, covering external relations.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine aims to open all six negotiating clusters by the end of 2026.
EU accession negotiations require agreement among member states, allowing individual countries to block progress at various stages of the process.