The European Union is expected to open only two additional accession negotiation clusters with Moldova and Ukraine before the summer recess, despite earlier plans to advance five clusters, according to Euronews, citing European officials and diplomats.
The adjustment comes amid continued opposition from Hungary, which has not yet given its consent for a faster pace in the enlargement process.
According to the report, Brussels is now seeking to open Cluster 2, covering the internal market, and Cluster 6, focused on external relations. Consideration of the remaining clusters has been postponed to a later stage.
Moldova and Ukraine opened their first negotiation cluster, dedicated to the fundamentals of EU membership, at the beginning of June after a prolonged period of deadlock.
The European Commission considers Ukraine technically ready to open all negotiation clusters, while Moldova is also making progress in the accession process. The two countries continue to be assessed together within the framework of EU accession talks.
Meanwhile, Hungary’s Prime Minister, Péter Magyar, has argued against accelerating Ukraine’s accession process, saying such a move could send the wrong signal to countries in the Western Balkans that have been waiting for years to advance toward EU membership.
Hungarian officials also maintain that Ukraine must make further progress regarding the rights of the Hungarian minority in the Transcarpathia region. Budapest insists that EU enlargement should remain a merit-based process focused on reforms rather than being driven by political deadlines.
Magyar has also reiterated plans to hold a binding referendum on Ukraine’s EU membership after accession negotiations are completed. According to him, the process could take between 10 and 15 years.
If member states reach consensus, the next negotiation cluster for Moldova and Ukraine could be formally opened at a meeting of EU affairs ministers scheduled for 14 July.