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Hungary Blocks Opening of EU Accession Clusters for Ukraine at Council Meeting
Kyiv Post • • world
Key Points:
- Hungary blocked the initiation of negotiation clusters 2 and 3 for Ukraine during the EU Council's COELA meeting on July 17, while agreeing to start cluster 3 for Moldova.
- Several EU member states opposed separating the accession progress of Ukraine and Moldova, resulting in no decision and a stall in opening the clusters for both countries.
- The meeting aimed to approve screening results for clusters 2 and 3 and request negotiating positions from Ukraine and Moldova, but consensus was not reached.
- EU member states plan to revisit the approval of these screening results at the next COELA meeting on July 22, the final session before the summer recess.
- Hungary had partially shifted its stance earlier in July by allowing the opening of cluster 6 but continues to block the other four clusters, while other EU members debate a phased approach to accession negotiations.
