Source: Hungary has reportedly stalled opening of negotiating clusters for Ukraine yet again

Hungary has prevented a working group of the Council of the EU from approving the screening results for negotiating clusters 2-6 for Ukraine and Moldova, blocking further steps towards the opening of EU accession negotiations in these areas.

Hungary has not agreed to the rapid opening of the remaining negotiating clusters for Ukraine and Moldova.

"During a meeting of the COELA working group this morning, Hungary reiterated its reservations about the premature opening of the remaining negotiating clusters for Ukraine," an EU source told European Pravda anonymously about the course of events during a COELA meeting.

The source clarified that this means the working group has still not approved the screening results for clusters 2-6 for Ukraine, meaning the next step – sending Ukraine a letter inviting it to submit its negotiating position on each cluster – cannot yet take place, delaying the start of discussions on their opening.

Similar procedures for Moldova have also been blocked.

It was reported earlier that during a COELA meeting in Brussels on 23 June, Hungary had refused to endorse the screening results, arguing that its experts require more time to assess them.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he hopes that the remaining five clusters in Ukraine's EU accession negotiations will be opened in the coming weeks.

However, Ukraine's plan to open all clusters in the EU accession negotiations by July 2026 may not materialise due to a lack of time for the necessary negotiations and coordination.