Kyiv has sent Budapest a draft education law that accommodates nearly half of Hungary’s language demands

Ukraine has handed Hungary a draft education law that takes into account nearly half of Budapest’s language-related demands. Kyiv expects a response soon.

This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka.

“On five of them, we’ve provided the text of the bill covering 11 points of the demands. If they’re satisfied, we’ll even submit it to the Verkhovna Rada,” Kachka said.

According to him, about 100 Hungarian schools are currently operating in Ukraine. In roughly two-thirds of them, the language of instruction is Hungarian with several subjects taught in Ukrainian; in the rest, instruction is in Ukrainian with several key subjects taught in Hungarian.

“As of today, de facto, we are fully meeting the Hungarian community’s request for education that serves their interests. What the Hungarian government is asking for concerns targeted issues,” the deputy prime minister believes.

At the same time, Kachka clarified that the changes proposed in the bill concern not only Hungarian, but all national minorities in Ukraine.

As a reminder, rolling back the language changes in legislation adopted after 2014 is a key condition for Hungary to unblock talks on Ukraine’s EU accession. Earlier, the Ukrainian authorities stated they are ready to fulfill all 11 of Budapest’s conditions.