Hungary again blocks opening of EU accession clusters 4 and 5 for Ukraine

In brief

• Hungary refused to approve screening results for clusters 4 and 5 for Ukraine's EU accession talks on 27 October.
• Diplomats say Budapest's position is unchanged, and the item was re-tabled to add political pressure.
• Clusters 4 and 5 are the last two negotiating clusters still unopened; Kyiv hopes to open them by end-2026.

Hungary keeps clusters closed

At a session of the Council of the EU's enlargement working group in Brussels on Tuesday, 27 October, Hungary declined to approve the outcome of the screening for clusters 4 and 5 in Ukraine's accession talks (У "дорожніх картах" ЄС для України та Молдови наразі не планують вказувати дати завершення переговорів, – ЗМІ – Espreso). Several EU diplomats familiar with the meeting said Budapest has not yet agreed to move the two clusters forward (Венгрия заблокировала открытие двух последних переговорных кластеров о вступлении Украины в ЕС — СМИ – NV).

One diplomat said Hungary's stance remains unchanged. According to the same sources, the Irish presidency of the Council knew in advance that Hungary did not intend to shift its position, yet the item was placed back on the agenda for 27 October (Угорщина знову заблокувала відкриття двох переговорних кластерів ЄС для України – Espreso).

A second diplomat said the repeat discussion aimed more at increasing pressure on Budapest than at securing a positive decision at that meeting.

What the two clusters cover

Cluster 4, the Green Agenda and sustainable connectivity, covers transport, energy, trans-European networks, the environment and climate action (Євроінтеграція України: Угорщина продовжила блокувати відкриття кластерів 4 і 5 – Українська правда). Cluster 5, resources, agriculture and cohesion, includes agriculture, fisheries, regional policy and budgetary provisions.

These are the last two negotiating clusters not yet opened for Ukraine. Kyiv hopes to open them by the end of 2026 (Угорщина продовжила блокувати відкриття кластерів 4 і 5 для України – Європейська правда).

Wider accession context

The accession agreement envisages talks across six thematic clusters grouping 33 negotiating chapters. Formal accession negotiations began in June 2024.