The decision was made during a meeting of the Ukraine-EU
Intergovernmental Conference in Luxembourg. The clusters opened were No. 2,
covering the internal market, and No. 3, covering competitiveness and growth.
EU officials said the same clusters were also opened for Moldova.
Transparency International Ukraine said the decision became
possible after the Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada) adopted amendments
to the education law in both readings and in the final vote, as Hungary had
demanded.
The organization said opening the two clusters was an
important step toward Ukraine’s European integration, but the process is still
lagging behind the timeline outlined in June 2026.
“Many of the reforms outlined in the roadmap are still
ahead, and this is an opportunity to show Europe that Ukraine is capable of
fulfilling its commitments,” said Andrii Borovyk, executive director of
Transparency International Ukraine.
“Yesterday’s vote on the law on the educational rights of
national minorities showed that when there is political will, Parliament can
adopt the necessary decision in its first reading and in the final vote during
a single session.”