Ukrainian Envoy Says Hungary Has No New Objections to EU Accession Clusters

Taras Kachka, Ukraine's representative to the European Union, has stated that Hungary has not raised any new objections to the opening of the final two clusters in the negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU. Speaking in an interview with Euronews, the diplomat emphasized that there are no substantive requirements, disagreements, or concerns currently blocking the process.

Kachka noted that while no new objections have been filed, the Hungarian side has requested additional time to study the documentation underpinning the next stage of the negotiations. Despite this request for a review period, he expressed confidence that Clusters 4 and 5 could be opened by the end of the year, as Budapest has not yet formally opposed the process.

The issue of education rights for national minorities, which has long been a source of tension between Ukraine and Hungary, appears to have been addressed. When asked if the Hungarian position remains linked to this specific topic, Kachka stated that the issue has now been resolved.

This progress follows a significant step taken in mid-October, when the EU officially opened two more clusters in the accession negotiations with Ukraine. Clusters 2, covering the Internal Market, and 3, focusing on Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth, were opened after the Ukrainian parliament approved amendments to the law on education. These amendments were designed to lift the veto that Hungary had previously exercised.

Ukraine continues to aim for the completion of EU accession negotiations by 2027 or 2028. Kachka indicated that this timeline could potentially be accelerated if internal reforms progress faster than currently expected. He highlighted that Ukraine operates with a different sense of urgency compared to other EU member states due to the ongoing war with Russia, where daily attacks and frontline fighting increase the pressure to speed up the integration process.

The diplomat acknowledged criticism regarding delays in the passage of European integration bills in the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament. However, he rejected suggestions of deliberate foot-dragging, pointing out the specific difficulties of passing laws during wartime. He noted that parliamentary sessions are frequently interrupted by air-raid warnings and Russian attacks on Kyiv, which complicates legislative work.

Kachka stressed that cooperation between the Cabinet of Ministers and the Verkhovna Rada has intensified in recent weeks. He expressed hope that the pace of reforms will pick up in the coming months. The envoy said he hopes the European Commission's enlargement assessment will confirm Ukraine's ability to adopt the necessary legislation by the end of 2027.

Hungary had previously refused to approve the screening results for negotiating Clusters 4 and 5, a necessary procedural step for their official opening. The current diplomatic stance suggests a shift toward allowing these final clusters to proceed, provided the documentation review is completed satisfactorily.