Updated
Updated · Ukrainska Pravda · Jul 18
Hungary Blocks 2 EU Accession Clusters for Ukraine, Stalling Moldova Before July 22 Vote
Updated
Updated · Ukrainska Pravda · Jul 18

Hungary Blocks 2 EU Accession Clusters for Ukraine, Stalling Moldova Before July 22 Vote

2 articles · Updated · Ukrainska Pravda · Jul 18

Summary

  • At a July 17 COELA meeting, Hungary backed only Cluster 3 for Moldova and refused to support launching Clusters 2 and 3 for Ukraine, leaving no consensus to move either bid forward.
  • Other EU member states rejected separating Ukraine and Moldova in the accession process, so officials postponed approval of the screening results and invitation letters until the next meeting on July 22.
  • That session is the last COELA meeting before the summer recess; if no deal is reached, enlargement experts are not due back in Brussels until Sept. 1.
  • The setback comes days after the EU opened Ukraine's Cluster 6 on July 14, despite earlier signals from Kyiv that the remaining four clusters would not slip past the summer.

Insights

With Ukraine stalled by a single veto, can the EU reform its own rules before it can ever expand?
As Moldova's progress is held hostage, is it time for the EU to decouple its bid from Ukraine's?
After a 'historic' rights deal, why is Hungary's new leader still blocking Ukraine's fast-track EU bid?