Hungary, which had previously stated its intention to impede the acceleration of Ukraine’s accession negotiations, has now agreed to begin negotiations on EU-Ukraine relations within the forthcoming negotiation cluster, as reported by EU sources on Friday. The sixth cluster is slated to commence on 14 July.
Earlier in June, the inaugural negotiation cluster involving both Ukraine and Moldova was unveiled, concentrating on fundamental issues. In total, six clusters encompass 33 negotiation chapters. The cluster designated for fundamental issues is the first to be initiated and will ultimately be the last to conclude. Within this cluster, the candidate country is obligated to align its legal framework with EU standards across multiple domains, including but not limited to the judiciary, anti-corruption initiatives, democratic institutions, public procurement, public administration, and financial oversight.
The remaining clusters address internal market issues, competitiveness, climate change, agriculture, and foreign policy. Kyiv has expressed optimism about the potential opening of negotiations on the five remaining clusters in July. Notwithstanding Budapest’s prior position against expediting accession discussions during the summer months, it has now acquiesced to the initiation of further negotiations.
As confirmed by EU sources on Friday, all member states, including Hungary and Poland, have reached a consensus to open the sixth negotiation cluster, focused on foreign affairs, in collaboration with Ukraine and Moldova. Intergovernmental conferences to formally inaugurate this cluster are tentatively scheduled for 14 July.
During the inauguration ceremony of the Irish presidency in Dublin on 1 July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed Ukraine’s aspiration to advance additional negotiation chapters. Taoiseach Micheál Martin, the Irish Prime Minister, likewise conveyed that Ireland will facilitate the opening of all clusters by the conclusion of the calendar year.
Ukraine’s application for European Union membership was submitted on 28 February 2022, merely four days after Russia’s full-scale aggression. Moldova followed suit with its application on 3 March 2022. Both countries received candidate status in June 2022.
