The Council of the EU's Working Party on Enlargement (COELA) once again failed to approve the screening results for Ukraine's negotiating clusters 2 and 3 on 8 September, as Hungary continues to block the decision.
European diplomats failed on 8 September to persuade Hungary to agree to the opening of clusters 2 and 3 for Ukraine.
"Member states have not changed their positions. Hungary does not agree to move forward with the opening of clusters 2 and 3 for Ukraine."
The opening of clusters for Moldova is also blocked, although Hungary said in July 2026 that it was willing to approve the screening results for cluster 3 for Moldova. Other EU member states, however, have so far refused to separate Moldova and Ukraine in the accession process.
It was reported earlier that Hungary has still not informed Ukraine of its demands for the opening of new clusters.
On 1 September, Hungary once again refused to approve the screening results for clusters 2 and 3 for Ukraine, demanding that Kyiv take certain legislative steps regarding the Hungarian national minority.
