On October 12, 2026, a significant milestone was reached for Ukraine as all member states of the European Union agreed to open the second and third negotiation clusters regarding the country's accession to the EU. This announcement was made by the Irish Minister for European Affairs and Defence Thomas Byrne, whose country currently holds the presidency of the EU Council.
What the New Clusters Entail
The opening of the second and third clusters addresses crucial issues related to:
- the internal market;
- competitiveness;
- inclusive growth.
These clusters are vital for the further development of economic relations between Ukraine and the EU, as well as for integrating Ukraine into the European economic space.
Context and Significance of the Decision
The decision to open new clusters was made possible after the Ukrainian Parliament adopted a law ensuring the right of national minorities, particularly Hungarians, to receive education in their native language. This was one of the conditions set by Budapest for supporting the opening of the clusters.
Minister Byrne noted that following the “Montenegro Monday,” another “Super Tuesday” will occur for Ukraine, Albania, and Moldova, highlighting the importance of this process for all three countries.