Hungary blocks approval of screening results needed to open Clusters 2 and 3 for Ukraine

Hungary is continuing to block Ukraine's progress in EU accession talks by refusing to approve the screening results for Clusters 2 and 3, which would enable Kyiv to move forward with opening them.

According to European Pravda sources in the EU following a meeting of COELA, the Council of the EU's working party on enlargement, Hungary does not currently support the opening of Clusters 2 and 3 for Ukraine.

"Member states' positions have not changed; the screening results for Cluster 2, Internal Market, and Cluster 3, Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth, have not been approved," a European Pravda source said.

European Pravda previously reported that Vsevolod Chentsov, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, presented the status of Ukraine's fulfilment of its obligations under the EU accession negotiation process at a COELA meeting on 22 September.

COELA last attempted to vote on the screening results for Clusters 2 and 3 on 8 September, but again failed to reach an agreement due to Hungary's continued blocking of the decision.

The process of approving the screening results for Clusters 2 and 3 began in July 2026. However, on 17 July, Hungary blocked the decision regarding Ukraine, agreeing to advance only Cluster 3 for Moldova. Nevertheless, the majority of EU member states, led by the Irish presidency, opposed an approach that would separate Ukraine and Moldova in the negotiation process.

Read more in the article Hungary's "punishment" for Ukraine: how Magyar aims to humiliate Kyiv and block its EU future