The EU Council has agreed to open two more groups of membership negotiations with Ukraine after Hungary removed its block. These groups, known as accession clusters, cover different parts of the process of joining the EU. Four of the six clusters are now open. Hungary accepted this step after an agreement on protections for Ukraine’s Hungarian minority.
The agreement strengthens minority-language education while keeping Ukrainian as the language of state education. Hungary has criticized Ukraine’s education and language laws since their adoption in 2015 and 2017. After Peter Magyar won the election in April, Hungary’s new government showed greater willingness to allow the talks to advance. It approved the first two clusters in June but required stronger minority protections before further progress.
Diplomats are now arranging a possible first meeting between Magyar and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Brussels this week. It could happen alongside the EU summit, although no date has been set and the meeting is not officially confirmed. Opening negotiations does not guarantee membership: Ukraine must complete major reforms, and every EU country must approve the closure of each cluster.
