Ukraine expects two EU negotiating clusters to open on 13 October, foreign minister says after talks with Hungary

Following talks with Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán in Luxembourg, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said he expects that the EU will make a formal decision to open two negotiating clusters in Ukraine's accession negotiations on 13 October.

Source: European Pravda, citing Sybiha on X (Twitter)

Details: Sybiha noted that he and Orbán "discussed the most pressing issues on our bilateral and European agendas, compared notes and agreed on the next steps" and "congratulated each other on the successful fulfilment of our bilateral agreements".

He recalled that "the Ukrainian parliament has adopted amendments to education legislation to ensure the rights of European national minorities in Ukraine in this area, in line with EU best practices".

"Tomorrow, we expect the EU to officially decide to open Cluster 2, 'Internal Market', and Cluster 3, 'Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth'. I thanked the Hungarian side for its constructive position on this matter," Sybiha said.

He also briefed his Hungarian counterpart on "Russia's intensification of attacks on Ukraine's capital and other peaceful cities".

The ministers also discussed the agenda for the upcoming European Council meeting and the EU's decisions aimed at "stopping the aggressor, forcing it to change its calculus of terror, and bringing it to the negotiating table to achieve a lasting peace".

"Ukrainian-Hungarian dialogue is growing stronger, based on mutual respect, good-neighbourliness, and a shared European future in the interests of our peoples," Sybiha concluded.

Background:

• On Monday, Ukraine's parliament passed amendments to the law on education in a bid to secure Hungary's agreement to the opening of the second and third negotiating clusters in Ukraine's EU accession negotiations.
• The EU Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) is ready to approve the EU's common negotiating positions on the opening of the second and third accession negotiating clusters with Ukraine on Monday 12 October following the adoption of the amendments on minority education rights by the Verkhovna Rada.

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