On July 22, the EU will again try to persuade Hungary to open its clusters to Ukraine
On July 22, the EU Council’s Working Group on Enlargement will hold its second discussion with Hungary regarding the approval of the screening results for Clusters 2 and 3 for Ukraine and Moldova. Such approval is necessary to begin the procedure for opening these negotiation clusters, reports “Ukrainska Pravda,” citing EU diplomats in Brussels.
The issue of the screening results for both clusters has been re-added to the COELA meeting agenda. Ireland, which currently holds the EU Council presidency, and other EU member states will make a second attempt to persuade the Hungarian representative to support the approval of the screening results and the sending of letters to Ukraine and Moldova requesting their negotiating positions on Clusters 2 and 3.
According to a source speaking to “European Truth,” sending such a letter marks the formal start of the procedure for opening the clusters. The Irish presidency aims to begin preparations for opening the next clusters for Ukraine and Moldova—or at least one cluster—before the summer recess, in order to hold the corresponding intergovernmental conference in September.
During the COELA meeting on July 17, Hungary refused to initiate the process of opening Clusters 2 and 3 for Ukraine but agreed to Cluster 3 for Moldova. This option was not supported by a majority of EU member states, so no decision was made at that time. The July 22 session will be COELA’s final meeting before the summer recess; the next session is tentatively scheduled for September 1.
On July 14 in Brussels, the sixth negotiation cluster, “External Relations,” was opened for Ukraine. According to “European Truth,” an optimistic plan calls for opening all clusters by the end of 2026—one per month.
