Media: Hungary Alone Blocks Opening of Four EU Accession Clusters With Ukraine

Hungary is the sole European Union member state blocking the opening of four negotiation clusters in Ukraine's EU accession talks, a senior EU institutions official confirmed to DW on condition of anonymity.

According to the source, Hungary claims the only reason for the block is allegedly unresolved problems regarding the rights of the Hungarian national minority in Ukraine. Hungarian negotiators reportedly want to see more progress and concrete results in the implementation of Ukraine's law on national minorities. The diplomat described it as a typical bilateral dispute, where one side insists it is doing everything it can while the other demands more, noting that Hungary is dissatisfied with how the minority issue is being addressed and has raised it to the highest level in Brussels.

The official added that the blocking reflects the official position of the Hungarian government and that Hungarian diplomats in Brussels are following instructions from Budapest — if the prime minister gives an order, the ambassador must comply or resign.

Six negotiation clusters

Ukraine's EU accession talks are structured into six thematic clusters covering all areas of EU legislation, including "Fundamentals," "Internal Market," "Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth," as well as "Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity" and "Resources and Agriculture." The first two clusters were opened in June and July of this year.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos has said the remaining four clusters are technically ready to be opened and that Ukraine has met the required conditions. Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Taras Kachka, has likewise stated that all documents from both Ukraine and the European Commission are ready, and that opening the remaining clusters now depends entirely on reaching consensus among all 27 EU member states.