Ukrainian EU Membership Talks Accelerate After Hungary Drops Objections

Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union took a step forward on Tuesday, as Kyiv opened negotiations with Brussels on internal market and competitiveness standards, Irish Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne announced.

“Ukraine has shown remarkable determination on its EU membership path, amidst extraordinary challenges,” Byrne said in an Oct. 13 post on X, adding that he was proud to join Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Vsevolod Chentsov and European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos for talks in Luxembourg.

Ireland currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council, which sets the bloc’s foreign policy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the move, calling it “yet another important step on our path toward EU accession,” in an Oct. 13 post on X.

“It is important that all of us build on this momentum to open the remaining two clusters by the end of the year so that all six negotiating clusters are opened. Ukraine deserves this,” he added.

The re-opening of discussions between the EU and Ukraine was allowed to proceed after Hungary dropped its objections to Kyiv moving forward with membership negotiations.

Despite the ouster of former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban earlier this year, who had maintained closer ties with Russia than most other EU states and frequently stymied moves to support Kyiv, Budapest had maintained its opposition to the country joining the bloc over concerns about the Hungarian-speaking minority in Ukraine.

The Hungarian government, now under Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar, however, softened its position on Oct. 12, after Ukraine’s parliament passed legislation expanding the rights of Hungarian speakers and other minorities to receive education in their native language.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban said on Oct. 12, ahead of the vote in the Ukrainian parliament, that if the bill was successful, Hungary would allow the new talks to proceed, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

The legislation’s passage came to fruition after a deal struck in June between Budapest and Kyiv following Magyar’s election to guarantee the rights of Ukraine’s Hungarian speakers.

The deal allowed Ukraine to commence “Cluster 1” negotiations to join the EU, with Monday’s passing of the new law meaning Budapest gave consent for talks on Clusters 2 and 3.

Cluster 1 refers to the “fundamentals” of joining the union, including rule of law, judiciary, fundamental rights, democratic institutions, and public administration, among others.

Cluster 2 pertains to the EU’s internal market, covering policies related to the free movement of goods, services, workers, and capital, as well as common rules on competition, financial services, company law, and consumer protection.

Cluster 3 relates to economic competitiveness and growth, including taxation, economic and monetary policy, industry, digital transformation, employment, education, research, and customs.

There are six clusters in total, with Cluster 4 covering the Green agenda and sustainable connectivity; Cluster 5 dealing with resources, agriculture, and cohesion; and Cluster 6 addressing external relations.

Since July 16, Ukraine has also been proceeding with Cluster 6 (external relations) negotiations.

EU accession normally takes years of long, complex negotiations, and these talks are complicated by Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia.

Kyiv has repeatedly pushed for a fast-track path, with Zelenskyy telling leaders at the European Council summit in June that Ukraine “merits” full EU membership because it has “paid more than any other European country for its right to be free, independent, and European.”

He also said that accelerated membership would act as a security guarantee against future Russian aggression.

Such a move, however, has been opposed by several EU governments, most notably Germany and Hungary.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in January that Ukrainian membership in the EU by New Year’s Day 2027 is “out of the question.”

Hungary’s Magyar has been even stronger in objecting to a fast-track membership for Ukraine. In a June 3 post on X, he said that if Kyiv “succeeds in closing all 33 accession chapters within the next 10 to 15 years, Hungary will support Ukraine’s accession, subject to a legally binding referendum.”

For a new state to join the bloc, all existing members must give their approval.