Taras Kachka, Ukraine's representative to the European Union, has stated that Hungary has not raised any new objections to the opening of the final two clusters in the negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU.
Source: European Pravda, citing a Euronews interview with Kachka
Quote: "There are no substantive requirements, disagreements or concerns."
Details: Kachka added that Hungary has requested additional time to study the documentation underpinning the next stage of the negotiations.
He expressed confidence that the final two negotiating clusters, 4 and 5, could be opened by the end of the year, as Budapest has not yet raised any objections to the process.
Asked whether the Hungarian position is still linked to the education rights of national minorities – a long-standing source of tension between Ukraine and Hungary – the diplomat stated that this issue has now been resolved.
He also confirmed Ukraine's aspiration to complete the EU accession negotiations by 2027 or 2028, possibly even earlier if internal reforms progress faster than expected.
Kachka said Ukraine has a different sense of urgency from the EU member states because of the ongoing war with Russia, with daily attacks and frontline fighting increasing the pressure to speed up the process.
The diplomat acknowledged criticism regarding delays in the passage of European integration bills in the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) but rejected suggestions of deliberate foot-dragging. He pointed out the difficulties of passing laws in wartime, with parliamentary sessions being interrupted by air-raid warnings and Russian attacks on Kyiv.
Kachka stressed, however, that cooperation between the Cabinet of Ministers and the Verkhovna Rada has intensified in recent weeks and expressed hope that the pace of reforms will pick up.
He said he hopes the European Commission's enlargement assessment will confirm Ukraine's ability to adopt the necessary legislation by the end of 2027.
Background: Hungary has refused to approve the screening results for negotiating clusters 4 and 5, a necessary procedural step for their opening. On 13 October, the EU officially opened two more clusters in the accession negotiations with Ukraine: Clusters 2 (Internal Market) and 3 (Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth). To make this possible, the Ukrainian parliament approved amendments to the law on education to lift Hungary's veto.
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