Key facts
- Ukraine unlocked two EU enlargement clusters on Oct. 13.
- The "internal market" and "competitiveness" clusters were opened.
- Hungary dropped its objections after Ukraine passed a law on minority rights.
- Moldova is expected to open its own clusters shortly after Ukraine.
- Ukraine and Moldova have now opened four of the six EU enlargement clusters.
- The European Commission hopes the remaining two clusters can be opened by the end of 2026.
Ukraine advanced its bid to join the European Union by unlocking two more of the bloc's six enlargement clusters on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The "internal market" and "competitiveness" clusters, which are the largest by number of policy files, were opened during a ceremony.
This milestone was made possible after Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, passed a law on Monday that bolsters the rights of the country's Hungarian-speaking minority, a key demand from Hungary that had previously stalled progress. Moldova is expected to follow suit with its own ceremony approximately an hour after Ukraine.
Ukraine and Moldova have been advancing their EU membership bids in tandem. They previously opened the first cluster, on the rule of law, in June, followed by a second on external relations in July. With the addition of the "internal market" and "competitiveness" clusters, they have now opened four of the six required to-do lists for accession.
The European Commission and the Irish Council Presidency of the EU hope to see the remaining two clusters opened by the end of 2026. However, these final clusters, which cover sectors like agriculture and transport where Ukraine holds a competitive edge, may prove more challenging due to concerns from some EU member states about potential economic competition. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos indicated that solutions would be found for both sides regarding Ukraine's agricultural sector, aiming to protect European farmers while facilitating Ukraine's exports and adoption of EU standards.