--- title: "Ukraine's EU Accession: Media Learns Date of Opening Two More Clusters" description: "The EU Council on October 13 may decide to open two new negotiation clusters for Ukraine if Kyiv fulfills requirements on the education law." date: 2026-10-02T15:32:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraines-eu-accession-clusters-date-2026 tags: [ukraine-eu, enlargement, cluster-negotiations, vsevolod-chentsov, rikard-jozwiak] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Ukraine's EU Accession: Media Learns Date of Opening Two More Clusters ![EU Council meeting on Ukraine's accession and cluster opening](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/02/vstuplenie-ukrainy-v-es-daty-klasterov-2026/vstuplenie-ukrainy-v-es-daty-klasterov-2026-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - The EU Council meeting on October 13 could be pivotal for opening clusters No. 2 and No. 3. - Hungary is expected to agree to send the request for Ukraine's negotiating positions within COELA on October 6. - The Verkhovna Rada must pass amendments to the education law before the October 13 meeting. - Kyiv expects to open all negotiation clusters by the end of 2026. The upcoming meeting of the Council of the European Union could become a milestone in Ukraine's European integration process. According to information released by influential European observers, Brussels is preparing to take a key step toward the bloc's expansion by setting the date for the official opening of two negotiation clusters at once. ### Expectations from the October 13 'Super Tuesday' As Radio Liberty journalist Rikard Jozwiak reported on social media X, the EU Council meeting scheduled for October 13, 2026, has every chance of turning into a fateful moment for the entire security and cooperation architecture on the continent. European diplomats and experts have already unofficially called this date a 'Super Tuesday,' emphasizing the high momentum of the negotiation process. In addition to advancing the Ukrainian case, the agenda includes closing three negotiation chapters for Montenegro and one for Albania, indicating a general acceleration of the community's enlargement policy. ### Technical Steps and Hungary's Position The successful holding of the October meeting was preceded by complex diplomatic work at the level of EU working bodies. Specifically, on October 6, the relevant EU Council working party on enlargement (COELA) is expected to receive consent from Hungary on a further technical step. This concerns issuing official agreement to send a letter to the Ukrainian side requesting negotiation positions on clusters No. 2 and No. 3. Following this, Kyiv and Brussels must swiftly complete the necessary technical procedures. ### Kyiv's Domestic Political Obligations To adhere to the strict schedule, the Ukrainian side must fulfill a number of homework assignments. In particular, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is required to urgently pass amendments to national legislation, specifically the law 'On Education,' strictly before the EU Council meeting scheduled for October 13. Fulfillment of these legislative requirements is a mandatory prerequisite for further progress along the negotiation track and demonstrating commitment to European standards. ### Contradictory Data Despite optimistic statements regarding the potential opening of the clusters, certain concerns persist in the expert community regarding potential bureaucratic delays and procedural nuances. Some sources within diplomatic circles indicate that aligning the positions of individual member states may require additional compromises, although official Kyiv and specialized agencies expect all procedures to be completed. In addition, the question of the realistic deadlines for closing the remaining chapters remains debatable given the scale of reforms required for full membership. ### Plans by the End of 2026 and Reform Prospects Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Vsevolod Chentsov previously stated that Ukraine expects the successful opening of all remaining negotiation clusters for EU accession by the end of the current year 2026, provided there is a positive development of events. An additional incentive to accelerate the process is initiatives by the European Commission, which is considering granting candidate countries broader access to its single market even before their formal accession to the bloc, as well as preparing reforms to decision-making mechanisms to bypass national vetoes. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Вступление Украины в ЕС: СМИ узнали дату открытия еще двух кластеров](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/vstup-ukrayini-es-zmi-diznalisya-datu-vidkrittya-1790954716.html) - Основной источник информации о дате 13 октября и заявлении Рикарда Йозвяка. - [Украина ожидает открытия всех кластеров переговоров о вступлении в ЕС до конца года](https://parlament.ua/ru/news/ukraina-ozhidaet-otkrytiya-vseh-klasterov-peregovorov-o-vstuplenii-v-es-do-koncza-goda/) - Подтверждает амбиции Украины открыть все кластеры до конца 2026 года. - [Украина планирует открыть все раунды переговоров о вступлении в ЕС до конца года](https://ua.news/ru/ukraine/ukrayina-planuie-vidkriti-vsi-klasteri-peregovoriv-pro-vstup-do-es-do-kintsia-roku) - Детали планов евроинтеграции Украины на текущий год. - [Украина рассчитывает открыть все кластеры в переговорах для вступления в ЄС до конца года ...](https://ru.slovoidilo.ua/2026/10/02/novost/politika/ukraina-rasschityvaet-otkryt-vse-klastery-peregovorax-vstupleniya-s-koncza-goda-vice-premer) - Заявления вице-премьера о сроках переговорного процесса. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: When will the key EU Council meeting on enlargement take place? **A:** The EU Council meeting is scheduled for October 13, 2026. ### Q: Which clusters are planned to be opened for Ukraine? **A:** The opening of negotiation clusters No. 2 and No. 3 is expected. ### Q: What condition must the Ukrainian parliament fulfill? **A:** The Verkhovna Rada must pass amendments to the 'Education' law before October 13.