Negotiations over the country’s accession to the European Union are divided into six major thematic areas known within the EU as clusters; one source indicates there are 33 specific topics grouped within these clusters, while another source says the blocks comprise between 33 and 35 sections.
For each area, the candidate country must gradually bring its legislation and practices in line with EU standards.
Before a new cluster can be opened and negotiations started on its specific topics, the European Commission conducts what is known as a screening: it compares the candidate country’s laws with EU norms and determines what changes need to be made.
The results of this screening must then be approved by EU member states. At present, Hungary is blocking this stage, preventing Ukraine from moving forward to open negotiations on two new clusters.
Separately, the EU has spelled out to Kyiv 145 benchmarks, or conditions. According to former deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration Taras Kachka, implementing them could take anywhere from several months to two years.
On June 15, the EU opened the first cluster of negotiations with Ukraine, ‘Fundamentals,’ focused on core questions about how the state functions and the rule of law.
This cluster also includes issues related to national minorities. Hungary has already warned that if Kyiv does not fulfill agreements made with Budapest, the negotiations will be frozen.
Earlier, Hungary blocked the opening of clusters 2–6 for Ukraine, but later agreed to lift its hold on the sixth cluster, which covers external relations.
The sixth cluster was opened for Ukraine on July 14.
A previous attempt to approve the results of the screening for clusters 2 and 3 took place on July 22, but ended unsuccessfully due to Hungary’s position.
At a meeting of the EU Council’s Working Party on Enlargement and Countries Negotiating Accession, COELA, on Tuesday, September 1, Hungary again blocked Ukraine’s progress by refusing to confirm the screening results for negotiation clusters 2 and 3.
Cluster 2 is dedicated to the EU’s internal market, including the free movement of goods, workers, services, and capital, as well as corporate law, intellectual property, and consumer protection.
Cluster 3 focuses on economic competitiveness. It includes taxation, economic and monetary policy, social policy and employment, education, science, and industrial policy.
“Everything remains unchanged,” one source said.
According to EU sources, Hungary justified its position by raising demands regarding the protection of the rights of the Hungarian national minority in Ukraine.
A representative of Budapest stated at the meeting that the country would be willing to lift the block if Ukraine takes action to implement earlier bilateral agreements on minority rights.
Until then, Hungary is not prepared to agree to Ukraine’s progress.
At the same time, Budapest is ready to approve the screening results for cluster 3 in Moldova’s case.
Officials say this arrangement could effectively split Ukraine and Moldova, which have so far advanced in parallel in the negotiation process.
Most EU member states, led by Ireland as president of the EU Council, oppose such a move.
The September 1 meeting marked the third attempt to persuade Hungary to approve the cluster screening.
The next COELA group meeting is scheduled for September 2, but Ukraine and Moldova are not on the agenda.
(UAWire)
