Hungary has lifted its veto on opening the second and third negotiation clusters for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. This was reported by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha.
“Ukraine’s accession to the EU is moving forward step by step. Ukraine and Hungary are taking steps towards each other and towards European unity,” Sybiha wrote.
“Today, at COREPER level, the Hungarian side gave the ‘green light’ to the negotiating positions on Cluster 2 ‘Internal Market’ and Cluster 3 ‘Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth’. Thank you, Anita Orbán, for the teamwork that serves the interests of both our friendly peoples and a strong Europe,” the head of Ukrainian diplomacy added.
The foreign minister also recalled that this week the Verkhovna Rada registered a draft law to safeguard the educational rights of Ukraine’s indigenous peoples and national minorities. The document has already been approved by the relevant parliamentary committee.
- Earlier, the Financial Times, citing two European officials, wrote that Hungary may ease its veto on advancing accession talks on Ukraine joining the European Union.
- Hungary’s Prime Minister Péter Magyar reportedly instructed diplomats not to block the sending of letters to Ukraine and Moldova regarding the possible opening of two more negotiation clusters linked to the internal market and competitiveness.
- At the same time, Budapest’s full political support will depend on whether Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada passes, on 12 October, a law expanding opportunities for education in national minority languages. The issue of the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine has long remained one of Budapest’s key priorities.