A landmark decision in the European integration path of Ukraine and Moldova was reached on Wednesday evening, as the EU Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper II) under the Cyprus Presidency launched the process for the formal opening of Cluster 1 in the accession negotiations of both countries, a development made possible by Hungary’s change of position, after lifting its two-year veto on the process.
The shift came from Hungary’s new leader, Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who announced in a video statement the conclusion of a “comprehensive agreement” with Kyiv on expanding the linguistic, educational, cultural and political rights of the Hungarian-speaking minority in Ukraine. Hungary’s Permanent Representative withdrew his country’s reservations, prompting a last-minute change to the agenda and unblocking the procedural step that had been frozen for two years.
A Cyprus Presidency spokesperson, chairing the meeting, described the outcome as yet another success for the Presidency. “Today in Coreper, we initiated the process for the formal opening of Cluster 1 in the accession negotiations of Ukraine and Moldova, marking a significant milestone in their European integration path,” the spokesperson said, noting that the Cyprus Presidency, “guided by the merit-based approach, is delivering on enlargement, which is a strategic priority and one of the European Union’s most transformative policies.” The spokesperson added that “this positive development sends a strong message of unity and determination.”
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Taras Kachka, warmly thanked the Cyprus Presidency “for its efforts to advance the preparations for the opening of Cluster 1 in Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations, as well as for its unwavering support for our European aspirations.” He stressed that “today’s step towards the formal opening of Cluster 1 brings us closer to our joint European future,” adding that “the future of the EU is stronger with Ukraine.”
Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister Cristina Gherasimov also welcomed the development. “Moldova welcomes today’s launch of preparations for the formal opening of Cluster 1 in the accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine. We thank the Cyprus Presidency for its leadership and remain committed to our EU accession path, on the basis of our own merits,” she wrote.
The EU’s Common Position on Cluster 1 is expected to be formally adopted next week, pending internal Council procedures, with intensive working party-level discussions beginning on Thursday. The plan foresees two separate Intergovernmental Conferences on 15 June in Luxembourg, one for each country.
Cluster 1, known as “fundamentals,” covers the rule of law, human rights and the judiciary, and spans 33 chapters across six thematic clusters.