Ukraine envoy: Hungary clears path for final EU negotiation clusters

Taras Kachka, Ukraine’s representative to the European Union, said on Monday that Hungary has not raised new objections to the opening of the final two clusters in the country's EU accession negotiations.

Speaking to Euronews, Kachka stated that there are currently no substantive requirements, disagreements, or concerns blocking the process. Although the Hungarian side has requested additional time to study the documentation for the next stage, Kachka expressed confidence that Clusters 4 and 5 could be opened by the end of the year because Budapest has not formally opposed the move.

The long-standing dispute over education rights for national minorities appears to be resolved. When asked if Hungary’s position remains tied to that specific topic, Kachka said the issue has now been addressed. This follows a procedural step in mid-October when the EU opened Clusters 2 and 3, covering the Internal Market and Competitiveness, after Ukraine’s parliament approved amendments to the education law to lift the Hungarian veto.

Ukraine aims to complete accession negotiations by 2027 or 2028. Kachka indicated the timeline could accelerate if internal reforms progress faster than expected. He noted that the ongoing war with Russia creates a different sense of urgency for Kyiv compared to other member states, as daily attacks and frontline fighting increase pressure to speed up integration.

The envoy addressed criticism regarding delays in passing European integration bills in the Verkhovna Rada. He rejected claims of deliberate foot-dragging, citing the difficulties of legislating during wartime. Parliamentary sessions are frequently interrupted by air-raid warnings and Russian strikes 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 and that the European Commission’s enlargement assessment will confirm Ukraine’s ability to adopt necessary legislation by the end of 2027.

Hungary had previously refused to approve the screening results for Clusters 4 and 5, a necessary 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.