Hungary has blocked further progress for Ukraine in accession negotiations with the European Union. During technical consultations, it refused to support the opening of the second and third negotiation clusters, which primarily concern the single European market, competitiveness, economic policy, employment, and social issues. This was reported by the Financial Times, citing sources familiar with the discussions.
According to the newspaper, Budapest delayed the approval of the results of what is known as the "screening" process, in which the European Commission assesses how well Ukrainian laws align with EU rules. Without the consent of all member states, the formal procedure leading to the opening of individual clusters cannot be completed. Therefore, European officials believe that direct political negotiations will be necessary to obtain Hungarian support.
At the same time, the Hungarian government opposes Ukraine receiving an exceptionally fast or privileged process for accession to the EU. An unnamed Hungarian official stated that Kyiv should not receive more favorable conditions than countries in the Western Balkans, which have been trying to meet EU requirements for many years.
Ukraine applied for membership shortly after the start of the Russian invasion in 2022 and was granted candidate status in the same year. Formal accession negotiations began in June 2024. The negotiations are divided into 33 chapters grouped into six thematic clusters. The first cluster, focused on the rule of law, the functioning of democratic institutions, and fundamental rights, was opened in June 2026. Later, it was also possible to open the sixth cluster dedicated to external relations.
However, the mere commencement of negotiations does not guarantee membership or set a date for accession. The accession process can take many years, and each country must meet extensive legal, economic, and institutional conditions before being accepted.