Hungary sees no new objections to EU talks with Ukraine
Ukraine’s EU negotiator says the final two negotiating clusters may be closer, but no decision has yet been taken.
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According to Ukraine’s EU negotiator Taras Kachka, Hungary has raised no new substantive objections to opening the final two negotiating clusters with Ukraine. That does not yet amount to a formal breakthrough: the next step requires decision-making within the EU.
Kachka said on Tuesday that Hungary had raised no new substantial objections. His statement is a political update, not a decision by the Council of the European Union. It is therefore still unclear when the remaining clusters can formally be opened.
The accession negotiations are divided into six clusters. According to the Council of the EU, cluster 1 on fundamentals and cluster 6 on external relations have now been opened for Ukraine. The Council says cluster 2 on the internal market and cluster 3 on competitiveness and inclusive growth were added on 13 October.
The final two clusters have not yet been opened. They comprise cluster 5 on agriculture and cohesion and cluster 4 on the green agenda and sustainable connectivity. Opening a cluster also does not mean that Ukraine has met all the conditions; the EU works with benchmarks and reform requirements.
Hungary has previously played an important role in the pace of the negotiations. Accession decisions traditionally require broad political agreement among the member states. A less obstructive Hungarian position could facilitate the process, but does not remove the substantive assessment of Ukraine’s reforms.
This is relevant to the Netherlands because EU enlargement affects the internal market, agriculture, the budget and decision-making. Ukraine is a candidate country and is negotiating while the war with Russia continues. The statement about new objections provides no clarity on when membership might be possible.
The wording ‘no new objections’ is deliberately narrower than ‘Hungary supports opening’. Public sources confirm that four of the six clusters are open and that the final two are still awaiting further decision-making. Whether Hungary will actually vote in favour is not established as of 3 November.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Ukraine is conducting accession negotiations with the European Union.
- Four of the six negotiating clusters have been opened.
- The Ukrainian negotiator says Hungary has raised no new substantive objections.
- No formal EU decision on the final two clusters has yet been reported.
Left
Arguments Rapid progress could offer Ukraine political support, institutional reform and economic prospects while the country is at war. From this perspective, the EU should prevent a single member state from blocking Ukraine’s European prospects.
Values European solidarity, democratic reform and protection of a country under threat.
Consequences Faster negotiations could strengthen Ukraine, but would also require long-term financial and administrative support from the EU.
Centre
Arguments The negotiations should continue, but each cluster should be demonstrably assessed against the EU’s conditions. A compromise lies in technical progress without anticipating eventual membership.
Values The rule of law, predictable procedures and institutional care.
Consequences This could keep the process credible, but would make progress slower and dependent on agreement among all member states.
Right
Arguments The EU should first clarify the implications for the budget, agriculture, the internal market and decision-making before committing to further enlargement. National governments should retain room to raise objections about reforms, costs and security.
Values National responsibility, financial control and verifiable conditions.
Consequences A more cautious pace could limit risks, but could also weaken the EU’s political influence over Ukraine and the wider region.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The text distinguishes the new Ukrainian statement from formal EU decision-making. The status of the four opened clusters was checked with the Council of the EU.
- confirmed According to Taras Kachka, Hungary has raised no new substantive objections. — This is the core of EconoTimes’ reporting on Kachka’s statement. source
- confirmed Four of Ukraine’s six negotiating clusters have been opened. — The Council of the EU lists clusters 1, 6, 2 and 3 as open. source
- confirmed The final two clusters have not yet been opened. — This follows from the status of the six clusters given by the Council. source
Editor's note
The latest update comes from a statement by the Ukrainian negotiator. The EU confirms progress on the four clusters already opened, but there is no formal decision on the final two.Sources
- Ukraine Envoy Says Hungary Has No New Substantive Objections to EU Accession Talks — EconoTimes
- Ukraine - Consilium — Raad van de Europese Unie
- Andrii Sybiha: I have confirmation of new aid packages from at least five countries — Ukrinform
More on this in Dutch media
- RTL Nieuws — „oekraïne hongarije”
- NOS — „oekraïne hongarije”
- Het Parool — „oekraïne hongarije”