EU scales back Ukraine's accession timetable due to Hungarian resistance

The European Union has scaled back its ambitions for Ukraine's accession talks, now targeting the opening of just two negotiating clusters in July rather than five.

The revised timetable in Brussels aims at unlocking Cluster 6 (external relations) and Cluster 2 (internal market) before the summer break, several officials and diplomats told Euronews, with the remaining three tackled gradually afterwards.

Ukraine and Moldova, which are informally paired, opened Cluster 1 (fundamentals) earlier this month after a two-year wait under Hungary's veto.

The change of plans comes as the new government in Budapest signalled several times, both publicly and privately, its opposition to speeding up Ukraine's membership bid.

Hungary has yet to sign the joint letters necessary to unblock the different clusters. The refusal was confirmed on Tuesday during a working group meeting between member states, which left the process on hold for now.

Though largely procedural, the impasse underscores Hungary's enduring reservations regarding Ukraine's path to EU membership.

For Budapest, opening all six clusters in a condensed period is tantamount to fast-tracked accession. The characterisation is rejected by a majority of member states, which see the clusters as just the beginning of an arduous, complex journey.

"There are definitely issues, but we expect them to be resolved in time for at least two clusters to be opened in July," an EU official with an overview of the file told Euronews.

Still, the climbdown marks a significant retreat for Brussels.

The European Commission has consistently indicated that Ukraine was technically ready to negotiate the six thematic clusters, which altogether cover 33 chapters.

Last month, Marta Kos, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, upped the ante and set July as the deadline to open all clusters, a target endorsed by Kyiv.

"Everything is ready," Kos said.

But faced with renewed resistance from Hungary — and possibly other member states suspected of having used the previous veto to keep their own concerns under wraps — Brussels has been forced to lower its ambitions.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen struck a positive tone after last week's summit of EU leaders, but fell short of echoing Kos's ambitious objective.

"Our goal is to open more clusters before the summer," von der Leyen said.

By contrast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who attended the summit in person, maintained the original ambition.

"We are ready to move further," he told leaders. "We can open the other five clusters as well. Everything is already prepared, and this can be done in the coming weeks."

If there is unanimity, the next cluster could be formally opened on 14 July during a meeting of European affairs ministers in Brussels.