All 27 EU countries agree to open two more accession negotiating clusters with Ukraine
All 27 European Union member states have agreed to open two additional accession negotiating clusters with Ukraine and Moldova, Irish Minister for European Affairs and Defence Thomas Byrne announced on Oct. 12.
The agreement covers Cluster 2, which deals with the EU's internal market, and Cluster 3, which covers competitiveness and inclusive growth.
“‘Montenegro Monday’ will be followed by another ‘Super Tuesday’ for Albania, Moldova and Ukraine,” Byrne wrote on X, confirming unanimous agreement among EU members.
The announcement followed Ukraine's adoption of legislation expanding educational rights for national minorities, a key issue in negotiations with Hungary over the country's objections to advancing Ukraine's EU accession process.
Earlier on Oct. 12, Ukraine's parliament approved the legislation with 266 votes, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed it into law the same day.
Hungary had previously agreed to unblock the two negotiating clusters following talks with Kyiv over the rights of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine's western Zakarpattia region.
Ukraine and Moldova are now expected to formally open the two clusters on Oct. 13.
Ukraine's EU accession negotiations are organized into six thematic clusters. The first, covering fundamental reforms, received unanimous EU approval in June, while Cluster 6, covering external relations, was formally opened in July.
Zelenskyy has said Ukraine aims to open all six negotiating clusters by the end of 2026.
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