Deadlock in Brussels enlargement meetings
Hungary blocked the procedural step to open the final two EU membership clusters for Moldova and Ukraine on October 20. Technical experts from 27 EU countries met to discuss opening the remaining clusters for agriculture, environment, and transport, but Hungary stopped the move and left 26 other countries disappointed. Ukraine and Moldova are proceeding together in their membership process, having cleared two clusters in Luxembourg on October 13. While Kyiv passed a law on October 12 regarding education rights for Ukraine’s Hungarian-speaking minority, officials expect the block to be a temporary measure to prevent the Hungarian government from being seen as "soft" on Ukraine. One diplomat said colleagues asked Hungarian counterparts to explain their position, but Hungary only stated their position remains the same. The discussion will come up at every subsequent enlargement working party meeting in Brussels, until the deadlock is broken, because advancing these membership bids is a priority of the Irish EU Council Presidency, which chairs the meetings until the end of the year. Senior EU and national officials predict the final two clusters will formally open in December.
Ukraine’s anti-corruption reform progress
Ukraine continues to build its anti-corruption architecture to meet the basic requirements for EU membership. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed legislation to restore the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). These institutions investigate and prosecute corruption involving senior officials and politically influential individuals. Since the 2014 Maidan revolution, Kyiv has relied on Western assistance to build these systems and has implemented digital public services to reduce bribery risks. Legislation restricting the autonomy of these institutions previously triggered public protests and criticism from Western partners. For Brussels, having independent institutions is a basic requirement, though fair court cases and protection from political interference are also necessary. Ambassador to Moldova Rohovei argued that the ability to investigate high-level corruption proves the independence of these institutions. "The very fact that people of such a high rank, if they have violated the law, have been held accountable is evidence that we have achieved certain results in this field," Rohovei told BIRN. The ambassador admitted that more reforms are needed and said Ukraine relies on cooperation with partners in Europe and across the Atlantic to continue its reform work.
