Ukraine takes step forward in EU membership talks after Hungary drops objections

Ukraine took a step forward in its European Union membership ​bid on Tuesday, opening talks with ‌the bloc on internal market and competitiveness standards, Irish Minister of State for European ​Affairs Thomas Byrne said, after Hungary ​dropped its objections.

The Hungarian government backed ⁠the move after Ukraine’s parliament passed legislation ​on Monday expanding the rights of ​Hungarian speakers and other minorities to receive education in their native language.

The EU accession process ​normally involves years-long complex negotiations, further ​complicated in the case of Ukraine by the ‌ongoing ⁠war.

As part of the process, candidate countries negotiate policy “chapters” which are grouped into six thematic clusters, including fundamental rights, ​the bloc’s ​internal market ⁠and external relations.

The EU opened negotiations with Ukraine on the ​first set of policy issues — ​such ⁠as the judiciary and functioning of democratic institutions — in June. The two sides ⁠opened ​negotiations on the external ​relations cluster in July.

Source:  Reuters

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