Hungary prepares to lift veto on Ukraine's EU accession negotiations - Financial Times

Hungary may as early as this week stop blocking the technical stage of negotiations on the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the European Union. This will allow progress toward opening two more negotiating clusters, Financial Times reports citing two officials.

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has instructed Hungarian diplomats not to block, at working meetings, the sending of letters to Ukraine and Moldova regarding the possible opening of the next two negotiating clusters. They concern the internal market, as well as competitiveness and inclusive growth.

This is still a procedural step, but it carries important political significance after prolonged blocking by Budapest. According to FT, Hungary's full support for opening these clusters will depend on a decision by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

On October 12, the parliament is to consider a law that expands educational opportunities for national minorities. The document was prepared taking into account comments from the Hungarian side. The rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine have long remained one of Budapest's main issues in relations with Kyiv.

If the Verkhovna Rada passes the law, it could open the way to a formal political decision on two new clusters even before the EU leaders' summit in Brussels on October 15-16.

Currently, Ukraine has already opened negotiations on two of the six thematic clusters - "Fundamentals" and "External Relations." If EU countries agree on two more, only the "Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity" cluster and the cluster covering resources, agriculture, and cohesion policy will remain unopened.

The European Commission expects to reach agreement on all clusters for Ukraine and Moldova by the end of 2026.

Negotiating chapters in the EU accession process are opened and ultimately closed only with unanimous support of all 27 member states. That is why Hungary's position directly affects the speed of Ukraine's advancement to the next stages of negotiations.

Based on materials from: Financial Times, Council of the EU