EditEU advances formal accession talks: Ukraine and Moldova invited to open first negotiation cluster
The breakthrough comes after Hungary lifted its long-standing veto on Ukraine’s EU bid after deal on minority rights
In a significant step forward for European integration, the European Union is preparing to formally open the first negotiating cluster (Cluster 1: Fundamentals) with both Ukraine and Moldova. This marks the start of detailed, chapter-by-chapter accession talks. The intergovernmental conference is scheduled for 15 June in Luxembourg.
Moldova has explicitly received the invitation alongside Ukraine, as confirmed by recent diplomatic moves from the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU. Preparations for the formal opening of Cluster 1 are underway, sending a strong signal of EU commitment to enlargement in the Eastern Partnership region.
The preparation for the formal opening of Cluster one in the accession negotiations of the Republic of Moldova has just been initiated. https://t.co/QR5GRlyfJL
— Iwona Piórko (@IwonaPiorkoEU) June 3, 2026
Hungary drops its veto after deal on minority rights
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko stated on Thursday: “All EU member states have given the green light to open Cluster 1 in accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova.”
The breakthrough comes after Hungary signalled it would lift its long-standing veto on Ukraine’s EU bid. Under the new leadership of Prime Minister Péter Magyar (who succeeded Viktor Orbán), Budapest reached a “comprehensive agreement” with Kyiv on expanding linguistic, educational, cultural, and political rights for the Hungarian minority in Ukraine’s Transcarpathia region (approximately 100,000 people).
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Magyar announced the deal on 3 June, stating that Ukraine has committed to incorporating these measures into its legislation and EU action plan. In return, Hungary will support opening the first cluster of negotiations.
This agreement resolves key bilateral issues that had stalled progress since formal accession negotiations opened in June 2024. Both countries received EU candidate status in 2022, but Hungary’s opposition – primarily tied to minority rights concerns – had blocked the “package approach” linking the two candidacies.
Moldova, which faced no direct objections from Budapest, was indirectly held back by this linkage. Moldovan officials and EU diplomats have emphasized that Chișinău is ready to advance across all clusters, with technical work already progressing informally.
Journalist Paula Erizanu highlighted the moment for Moldova, posting the official letter from the Cyprus presidency: “Moldova is starting negotiations on cluster 1 ”.
Moldova is starting negotiations on cluster 1 🥳 pic.twitter.com/717QjUHivF
— Paula Erizanu (@paulaerizanu) June 3, 2026
Background and next steps
- Fundamentals Cluster: Covers rule of law, democratic institutions, human rights, and judicial reforms – the core “fundamentals” that must be addressed first and closed last.
- Timeline: EU ambassadors have initiated preparations. Formal approval is expected in the coming days, potentially ahead of the European Council summit on 18-19 June.
- Merit-Based Process: EU officials stress that accession remains based on individual progress, though the two countries have advanced in parallel.
Full EU membership for either country remains years away and depends on continued reforms, closing all 33 chapters across six clusters, and unanimous approval by member states. However, this week’s developments represent a major political and symbolic victory amid ongoing regional challenges, including security concerns.
Moldova and Ukraine continue to demonstrate commitment to the European path, with strong public support in both nations for closer EU ties. The opening of Cluster 1 paves the way for accelerated reforms and deeper integration.
This development comes as EU leaders gather for the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tivat, Montenegro, on Friday.
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Montenegro, widely regarded as the frontrunner in the accession process among Western Balkan candidates, has advanced negotiations significantly ahead of Ukraine and Moldova – with ambitions to close all chapters by the end of 2026 and potentially join the EU by 2028.
Western Balkan countries, which opened accession talks years earlier (Montenegro in 2012), are seeking reassurance that the EU will not sideline their long-standing candidacies for geopolitical reasons in favor of faster-track progress for Kyiv and Chișinău amid the security situation in Eastern Europe.
Caption: Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko (R), flanked by Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka, attends a bilateral meeting in Riga, Latvia, 1 June 2026. EPA/VALDA KALNINA
Updated: June 4, 2026 - 06:26
