Hungary blocks two key clusters of Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations

Hungary has once again slowed Ukraine’s path to European Union membership by blocking the opening of two negotiating clusters.

This was reported by the Financial Times on July 29.

Budapest refused to support the opening of the second and third negotiating clusters, which cover Ukraine’s integration into the EU single market as well as economic and social policy. The European Commission confirmed that Kyiv had met the necessary conditions to advance to this stage. Nevertheless, Hungary was the only one of the bloc’s 27 countries to oppose the move.

A Hungarian government spokesperson said Budapest opposes any “accelerated procedure” for Ukraine, insisting that Kyiv “should not receive more favorable conditions” than the Western Balkan countries, which have been fulfilling EU accession requirements for years.

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has maintained this position since coming to power — even after his government lifted the 17-month veto imposed by his predecessor Viktor Orbán, which had frozen the entire accession process.

The EU Council’s working group on enlargement (COELA) first reviewed the screening results for the second and third clusters on July 17. According to Ukrainian sources, Hungary refused to approve them on July 22. The next discussion is scheduled for September 1.

A shift in sentiment in Poland

Hungary’s opposition comes against the backdrop of deteriorating public opinion in Poland regarding Ukraine’s EU membership. A poll by the Polish Centre for Public Opinion Research (CBOS) showed that the number of Poles opposed to Ukraine joining the European Union reached a record 40 percent, compared with just 17 percent in 2023. The share of those in favor of immediate membership fell from 18 to 9 percent.

The decline in Polish enthusiasm has been linked to a decree issued by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in May 2026 granting honorary status to the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). The move reignited the issue of the Volhynia massacres of 1943–1945. In response, Poland stripped Zelensky of its highest state honor, the Order of the White Eagle.

Brussels officials are hoping to resolve the deadlock through direct political dialogue with Budapest. Ireland, which holds the presidency of the EU Council, has called for the blockage to be lifted as soon as possible. The EU accession process comprises 33 chapters grouped into six clusters, and the consent of all 27 member states is required to open each one. The first cluster, covering fundamental issues including the rule of law, was officially opened on June 15, and the sixth cluster, dedicated to external relations, on July 14.