Hungary has raised no new substantive objections to Ukraine’s EU accession talks, Kyiv’s new ambassador to the European Union, Taras Kachka, told Euronews, expressing confidence that the remaining two negotiating clusters could open before the end of the year.
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In his first interview since taking up his new post Kachka spoke exclusively to Euronews’ morning show Europe Today on Tuesday, a day before the European Commission publishes its latest enlargement assessment.
“I think that this word block misleads us,” Kachka said when asked about Hungary’s position, explaining that Budapest had requested additional time to examine the documents underpinning the next stage of negotiations.
His comments follow reports that Hungary withheld approval of the screening results for the remaining two clusters at EU Council working group meetings on October 20 and 27, despite lifting its objections to two other clusters earlier that month.
According to Kachka Hungary’s government wants more time to examine the details.
Asked whether Budapest’s position was still linked to minority education rights, a longstanding source of tension between the two countries, Kachka insisted that the issue had been resolved.
“There are no substantive requirements, disagreements or concerns,” he said, describing the remaining delays as a matter of reviewing several hundred pages of documentation.
Ukraine amended its minority education legislation in October, paving the way for the opening of two additional negotiating clusters and bringing the total to four out of six.
Kachka confirmed that the amended rules were already being implemented in Ukrainian schools that issue was long sorted.
Ukraine sticks to 2027–28 accession timetable
Kachka also reaffirmed Kyiv’s ambition to complete EU accession negotiations by 2027 or 2028, potentially sooner if domestic reforms progress faster than expected.
“I still stick to this 2027-2028 years as years of completion of negotiations and maybe even faster depending on how the situation will develop in Ukraine,” he told Euronews.
He said Ukraine’s sense of urgency differed from that of EU member states because of Russia’s ongoing war, with daily attacks and fighting on the frontline adding pressure to accelerate the process.
Kachka acknowledged criticism over delays in adopting EU-related legislation in Ukraine’s parliament but rejected suggestions of a deliberate slowdown, pointing to the difficulties of legislating during wartime, including parliamentary sessions interrupted by air raid alerts and Russian attacks on Kyiv.
Nevertheless, he said cooperation between the government and parliament has strengthened in recent weeks and expected the pace of reforms to accelerate.
“I see no challenges on substance,” he said, adding that he hoped the Commission’s enlargement assessment would confirm Ukraine’s ability to adopt the necessary legislation by the end of 2027.
Kyiv rejects associate membership alternative
Kachka also reiterated Ukraine’s rejection of associate EU membership as an alternative to full accession, even as similar arrangements have been discussed for countries such as Canada.
He argued that Ukraine, alongside Moldova, Montenegro and Albania, remained among the frontrunners for full membership.
“The EU sees us as a frontrunner, so that’s why we don’t need to shift to any alternatives,” he said.
Kachka suggested that associate membership was better suited to countries seeking closer partnerships with the EU without intending to join the bloc.
He acknowledged, however, that proposals for closer cooperation before accession, particularly in defence, security and financial support, could be useful without replacing the objective of full membership.
Agriculture remains a major hurdle
Agriculture, one of the most sensitive areas of Ukraine’s accession negotiations, would be among the most complex issues to resolve, Kachka acknowledged.
However, he rejected the need for lengthy transitional arrangements or broad restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural products entering the EU market.
“I believe that there are no necessity for any lengthy transitional period,” he said.
While recognising that sensitive products such as wheat could require specific arrangements, Kachka argued that most agricultural goods should not face additional limitations.
He said consultations with EU member states and agricultural stakeholders were continuing, with Kyiv seeking to demonstrate that Ukraine’s accession would strengthen the bloc’s agricultural sector.
