Ukraine's second and third EU negotiating clusters could open October 13, Chentsov says
Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Allsevyv Chentsov announced that there are agreements with the Hungarian side to open Ukraine's second and third EU accession negotiation clusters on October 13, conditional on the Verkhovna Rada adopting bill No. 16119. The bill addresses the educational rights of indigenous peoples and national minorities whose languages are official EU languages. An intergovernmental conference between Ukraine and Hungary is scheduled for October 13.
Key points
- Chentsov reported agreements with Hungary to open the second and third EU accession negotiating clusters on October 13
- Opening is conditional on the Verkhovna Rada adopting bill No. 16119 on educational rights of indigenous peoples and national minorities
- An intergovernmental conference between Ukraine and Hungary is scheduled for October 13
- Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk said parliament plans to begin work on October 12 and consider European integration bills, including unblocking the clusters
- Bill No. 16119 is titled "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on the Educational Rights of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine and Persons Belonging to National Minorities (Communities) of Ukraine"
- Education Committee head Serhiy Babak said the bill regulates educational rights of minorities whose languages are official EU languages and fulfills part of Ukraine's European integration obligations
- Chentsov said the law balances obligations on national minorities of concern to Hungary and neighboring states
Why it matters
Opening additional negotiating clusters would mark further progress in Ukraine's EU accession process. The move depends on adoption of a bill on national minorities' educational rights, which has been a point of friction with Hungary, and would involve cooperation between Ukraine and Hungary at an intergovernmental conference scheduled for October 13.
What happened
Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Allsevyv Chentsov announced that there are agreements with the Hungarian side to open Ukraine's second and third EU accession negotiation clusters on October 13. The opening is conditional on the Verkhovna Rada adopting bill No. 16119, which is titled "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on the Educational Rights of Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine and Persons Belonging to National Minorities (Communities) of Ukraine." An intergovernmental conference between Ukraine and Hungary is scheduled for October 13, the day after the law is expected to be adopted. Chentsov said the law needs to be adopted as soon as possible so that the President can sign it, though the question of presidential signing had not yet been discussed; he expressed hope the signing would not take long. He also said the bill addresses concerns of not only Hungary but also neighboring states interested in national minorities issues. Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk said parliament plans to begin work on October 12 and will consider a number of important bills, including those related to European integration and unblocking EU negotiating clusters. Education Committee Chairman Serhiy Babak linked the bill to fulfilling part of Ukraine's European integration obligations and to regulating the educational rights of national minorities whose languages are official EU languages.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Both Ukrainian-language sources, the agency Ukrinform and Suspilne News, reported the same Chentsov statement and framed the development as a concrete step in EU integration tied to a specific domestic legislative action. The coverage emphasizes the parliamentary process around bill No. 16119 and the role of the Verkhovna Rada leadership in scheduling the work to consider European integration legislation.
Background
The opening of the second and third clusters is tied to bill No. 16119, which addresses the educational rights of indigenous peoples of Ukraine and national minorities whose languages are official EU languages. Education Committee head Serhiy Babak linked the bill to fulfilling part of Ukraine's European integration obligations. Chentsov indicated the law is of concern not only to Hungary but also to neighboring states interested in national minorities issues.