Ukraine’s EU accession path becomes clearer as Cluster 6 opens

Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union progressed closer towards reality on Tuesday with EU affairs ministers formally approving the opening of Cluster 6.

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“We have today reached another milestone on Ukraine’s EU membership journey by opening another key negotiating cluster,” Irish Minister of State Thomas Byrne said following the announcement.

“This is a testament to the country’s commitment to move forward as quickly as possible.”

Ireland holds the rotating EU Council Presidency and speaks on behalf of the 27 EU member states as part of the discussions.

Cluster 6 encompasses external relations and is considered a core theme within the EU accession negotiation framework. Only one other cluster has been opened for Ukraine: Cluster 1, which covers fundamentals and rule of law.

Cluster 6 is also expected to open for Moldova on Tuesday, with the countries’ EU accession pathways linked.

A range of accession chapters – which are portions of clusters – are also expected to be closed for Western Balkan frontrunners Albania and Montenegro in what has been dubbed an accession “Super Tuesday”.

On her way into Tuesday’s meeting, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said that “today’s momentum must now be turned into delivery on the ground”.

Ending the impasse

Ukraine and Moldova applied for EU membership following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, both countries seeking to bolster their security and defence against Russia.

The news of more clusters opening for Ukraine ends a two-year political deadlock spearheaded by former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who repeatedly used his vote in the council to scupper progress.

Orbán had kept Kyiv’s accession bid on hold over a dispute concerning the treatment of the Hungarian minority in western Ukraine.

After he was ousted by political rival Péter Magyar at Hungary’s recent parliamentary elections, Ukraine and Moldova’s EU membership bids has become one of steady progress, with Cluster 1 opening in June.

It was prompted by Magyar’s new government working with the Ukrainian side to resolve the minority issue.

The European Commission considers both nations to be technically ready to open all clusters, which means the next steps depend on the views of the bloc’s 27 member governments.