---
title: "EU Countries Agree to Open Two More Negotiating Clusters for Ukraine"
description: "European Union countries have officially agreed to open the second and third negotiating clusters for Ukraine after Budapest lifted its veto."
date: 2026-10-12T16:58:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/eu-countries-agree-to-open-two-more-negotiating-clusters-for-ukraine
tags: [ukraine-eu, enlargement, hungary-veto, negotiating-clusters, geopolitics]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# EU Countries Agree to Open Two More Negotiating Clusters for Ukraine

![European Union and Ukraine flags against government buildings background](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/12/strany-es-soglasovali-otkrytie-eshche-dvukh-klasterov-dlya-ukrainy/strany-es-soglasovali-otkrytie-eshche-dvukh-klasterov-dlya-ukrainy-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- The EU agreed to open Clusters 2 (Internal Market) and 3 (Competitiveness).
- Hungary lifted its veto following the adoption of the national minorities law.
- Previously, Ukraine already opened Clusters 1 and 6 out of six total.
- Discrepancies exist in the media regarding the exact launch date of the clusters.

European Union member states have officially agreed to open the second and third negotiating clusters within the framework of Ukraine's full membership negotiations. This was announced by European diplomats and relevant ministers, confirming a qualitative shift in Kyiv's European integration as of October 2026.

### Background and Lifting of Hungary's Veto

 For a long time, Ukraine's European integration process faced diplomatic obstacles from Budapest. Hungary remained the only EU member state consistently blocking progress in key negotiation areas. However, the situation changed dramatically after the Ukrainian side fulfilled a number of fundamental requirements, in particular by adopting updated legislation on the educational rights of national minorities, which has already been signed by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.### Content of the Clusters to Be Opened

 This involves the practical launch of Cluster 2, covering the "Internal Market," and Cluster 3, titled "Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth." These areas are fundamental for adapting the Ukrainian economy to the strict standards of the single European market, removing trade barriers, and harmonizing relevant legislation with European directives.### Current Status of Negotiations and Next Steps

To date, Ukraine already has successful experience working on Cluster 1 ("Fundamentals") and Cluster 6 ("External Relations"). In total, the accession negotiation architecture consists of six comprehensive clusters. Experts and officials do not rule out that, against the backdrop of current momentum, the remaining negotiation areas could be unblocked and opened by the end of the current year.

### Contradictory Data

Despite the general agreement and official confirmation from Irish and Ukrainian diplomatic sources regarding the achievement of a fundamental arrangement, certain discrepancies remain in the media space regarding the exact calendar dates for formal approval and the launch of procedures. While some authoritative sources and specialized media announce the finalization of decisions and the start of cluster operations as early as October 13, 2026, other analytical reviews indicate the need to complete additional bureaucratic procedures at the EU institutional level, which may slightly shift the schedule of official events.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Страны ЕС согласовали открытие еще двух переговорных кластеров для Украины](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/krayini-es-pogodili-vidkrittya-shche-dvoh-1791824099.html) - Заявление государственного министра Ирландии по европейским делам и обороне Томаса Бирна.
- [Все страны ЕС откроют для Украины два переговорных кластера уже 13 октября](https://ua.news/ru/world/usi-krayini-es-vidkriiut-dlia-ukrayini-dva-peregovorni-klasteri-vzhe-13-zhovtnia) - Указывается конкретная дата запуска 13 октября.
- [Все страны-члены ЕС согласовали открытие ещё двух переговорных кластеров по вопросу вступления ...](https://sud.ua/ru/news/abroad/374682-usi-krainy-chleny-ies-pohodyly-vidkryttia-shche-dvokh-perehovornykh-klasteriv-shchodo-vstupu-ukrainy) - Подтверждение согласия всех стран-членов ЕС.
- [ЕС может открыть все переговорные кластеры с Украиной до конца года, – СМИ](https://www.unian.net/politics/vstuplenie-ukrainy-v-es-vse-peregovornye-klastery-mogut-byt-otkryty-v-etom-godu-13519689.html) - Прогнозируется открытие всех кластеров до конца года.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Which clusters has the EU agreed to open for Ukraine?
**A:** The EU agreed to open Cluster 2 ("Internal Market") and Cluster 3 ("Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth").

### Q: Why did Hungary block the opening of the clusters?
**A:** The blockage was related to issues of national minority rights. After Ukraine adopted and signed the law on the educational rights of minorities, the veto was lifted.

### Q: How many total clusters are foreseen in EU accession negotiations?
**A:** There are a total of six comprehensive clusters foreseen within the framework of European Union accession negotiations.