Hungary blocks approval of final EU negotiation clusters for Ukraine and Moldova
At a meeting on November 10, Hungary prevented the European Union from advancing the final stages of accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova by refusing to approve the screening results for the last two negotiating chapters.
By Hiroshi Ferrari ·
European Union enlargement talks with Ukraine and Moldova faced a significant obstacle on November 10 when Hungary refused to endorse the screening results for the final two negotiating clusters. The decision occurred during a session of the Working Party on Enlargement and Countries Negotiating Accession to the EU, commonly referred to as COELA. By withholding its approval, Budapest effectively stalled the process for opening these remaining chapters in both candidate countries' accession journeys.
Only two clusters remain to be opened in the current negotiation frameworks for both Ukraine and Moldova. These are Cluster 4, which covers the Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity, and Cluster 5, focused on Resources, Agriculture, and Cohesion Policy. The failure to secure agreement on these specific areas means that the comprehensive negotiation process cannot be fully completed for either nation at this time.
An EU diplomat described the Hungarian position as unchanged, indicating a consistent stance against moving forward with these specific chapters. This refusal highlights the ongoing diplomatic friction regarding the pace and conditions of European integration for Eastern European candidates. The blockage affects both Ukraine and Moldova, as the screening results for the same clusters in Moldova were also not approved during the same meeting.
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro Atlantic Integration, Vsevolod Chentsov, provided context for the delay earlier in the month. Speaking on November 4, Chentsov noted that Hungary is not currently presenting new demands concerning the rights of national minorities. Instead, he explained that the government in Budapest attributes the postponement to the necessity of conducting a further examination of the documents related to the relevant negotiating chapters.
The European Commission has recently observed that Moldova is maintaining a strong pace of reforms. According to the Commission, Moldova has the potential to catch up with Montenegro, which is expected to conclude its EU accession negotiations this year, as early as 2027 if the current momentum continues. This assessment suggests that despite the procedural hurdle in Brussels, the substantive reform efforts in Chisinau are progressing well.
However, recent official roadmaps from the EU have acknowledged a shift in the relative positions of the two countries. The documents recognize that Moldova has overtaken Ukraine on the path to accession. This development has raised questions about the comparative pace of integration, with recent reports suggesting that Ukraine may be losing ground relative to other candidate nations in the broader European race.
The refusal by Hungary to give the green light to these clusters represents a critical moment in the negotiation timeline. As the final chapters remain closed, both Ukraine and Moldova must continue their diplomatic efforts to address the concerns raised by Budapest. The outcome of these discussions will determine when the final stages of the accession process can officially begin for these countries.
The situation underscores the complex interplay between bilateral relations and multilateral EU processes. While the Commission monitors reform progress, the formal opening of chapters requires consensus among member states. Hungary’s continued stance on the document examination for Clusters 4 and 5 remains the primary factor preventing the finalization of the negotiation frameworks for both Ukraine and Moldova.
