On October 12, 2026, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed a bill regulating education in the languages of national minorities and indigenous peoples. A total of 266 members of parliament voted in favor of the bill.
Main Provisions of the Law
This law aims to ensure the right of children from national minorities and indigenous peoples, whose languages are official languages of the EU, to receive education in their native language alongside the state language. The bill includes provisions for:
- the establishment of schools with special status for national minorities;
- education in Hungarian, Romanian, and other EU languages;
- the possibility of granting minority status to schools where more than half of the students are taught in the respective language.
Hungary's Demands and European Context
The adoption of this law is a significant step for Ukraine in the context of European integration. Previously, Hungary had expressed the requirement for this bill's adoption as a condition for opening negotiation clusters for Ukraine's accession to the European Union. It is noted that Hungary's support could significantly influence Ukraine's European integration process.
Public and Expert Reactions
The passage of the law has elicited mixed reactions in society. Many experts believe that this step could improve relations between Ukraine and national minorities, particularly Hungarian and Romanian. However, there are also critics who argue that the law does not address all issues related to minority education.