Ukraine opens another negotiation block in EU accession talks

According to the Commission, the EU acquis to which Ukraine is to be gradually aligned comprises 35 so-called chapters, which are in turn assigned to six clusters. With the opening of the cluster on foreign policy, security, and defense, the number of active negotiation strands is growing. The Ukrainian government has set out its own goal of completing all necessary adaptations to EU law by the end of 2027.

Hungary's veto had blocked the process

Formal accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova had already been officially opened in June 2024. However, the process had stalled because Hungary imposed a veto on the opening of further negotiation blocks. It was only after political mediation that the talks could regain momentum. The conflict between Budapest and Kyiv is considered one of the most delicate disruptive factors in the entire enlargement process.

From the EU Commission's perspective, the current step marks an important litmus test: with the opening of the security-policy cluster, Ukraine commits to gradually aligning its foreign and security policy with that of the Union, including the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Observers assess this as a particularly politically sensitive area, because it directly touches on Ukrainian sovereignty in matters such as sanctions, arms exports, and cooperation with third states.

Marta Kos stressed that enlargement is one of the EU's most powerful foreign-policy instruments. She recalled that with the admission of Central European and Baltic states in 2004 and of the Western Balkans in the following years, the Union had brought stability and prosperity to regions that previously did not belong to the European core. The Commission now hopes for similar effects for Ukraine and the other candidate countries.

High hurdles until a possible accession

Irish Minister of State for Europe Thomas Byrne, whose country currently holds the presidency of the Council, also welcomed the opening of the new cluster. He described the accession talks as a "strategic investment in the security of Europe." Byrne spoke out in favor of consistently pursuing the chosen path while at the same time not lowering the reform requirements placed on Ukraine.

Despite the symbolic progress, the hurdles remain considerable. Alongside Hungarian reservations, Ukrainian authorities must fight corruption, reform the judiciary, and guarantee minority rights — all core EU criteria. It is also unclear how quickly the remaining five clusters can be opened in substance. Ukraine has stated its expectation of completing the entire adaptation process by the end of 2027 — a timetable that the Commission has so far neither confirmed nor rejected.

The next rounds of negotiations will show whether the current momentum holds. Brussels plans to open further clusters on competition law, the green transformation, and fundamental rights by the end of the year. With Moldova, Montenegro, and Albania, new blocks are also expected to launch on the same day, so that the EU's enlargement policy is overall picking up speed.