The Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU (COREPER) approved on July 10 the opening of Cluster 6 "External Relations" in negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU. This is the first cluster opened after Cluster 1 "Foundations" launched in June 2026.
What's inside the cluster
Cluster 6 covers two chapters: Chapter 30 — external relations (trade policy, humanitarian aid, cooperation with third countries) and Chapter 31 — common foreign, security and defence policy (CFSP/CSDP). In fact, Ukraine must align with the EU on sanctions policy, diplomatic positioning and export control regime.
"Cluster 6 is particularly important given today's global security environment. Common security and defence policy, trade, humanitarian aid — all of this brings Ukraine closer to the EU's common foreign and security policy"
— Taras Kachka, Vice Prime Minister for European Integration
Hungarian blockade partially lifted
Hungary had been blocking approval of screening results for Clusters 2–6 in the EU Council's working group on enlargement for months. On July 3, Budapest agreed to unblock only the sixth cluster. According to RMF FM, Hungary continues to refuse negotiations on the other four blocks.
According to Euronews, after the opening of Cluster 6, four clusters remain blocked. At the same time, there is no consensus in Brussels on their simultaneous opening: an increasing number of member states support a gradual approach. Poland also advocates a phased rather than accelerated opening of clusters.
Mechanism and next steps
COREPER's decision is a technical approval of the EU's common position. The cluster will legally open only on July 14 at an intergovernmental conference on the sidelines of the EU Council meeting on general affairs in Brussels. By that time, Ukraine had to submit its own negotiating position in response to a request sent on the same July 10.
- Cluster 1 "Foundations" — opened June 15, 2026, closes last according to EU methodology
- Clusters 2–5 — blocked, no unified opening date
- Cluster 6 — formal opening July 14, 2026
Opening a cluster is the start of negotiations, not their conclusion. Specific conditions for closing chapters (so-called closing benchmarks) still need to be negotiated separately for each of the two chapters of the cluster.
If Hungary does not lift the blockade on Clusters 2–5 by the end of 2026, Ukraine could end the year with only two open clusters out of six — and then the pace of the accession process will be determined not by Kyiv, but by Budapest.
