Politics · Other · 9 hrs ago
Ukraine passes bill expanding minority-language rights in schools
Ukraine’s parliament passed a bill on Oct.
12 to expand the use of minority languages in education.
It covers Hungarian-speaking communities and other national minorities whose languages are official EU languages, but not Russian.
In western Ukraine’s Zakarpattia region, about 80,000 ethnic Hungarians live.
Under the bill, schools where more than half of pupils study in a minority language could receive special status, and senior school staff would need to speak that language.
The bill still needs the president’s signature to become law.
Hungary had blocked the opening of further EU accession talks until Ukraine began making changes to protect minority education rights.
EU ambassadors were due to discuss the next two accession clusters on Oct.
12, with a formal launch possible the following day if Hungary agrees and all EU members reach consensus.
Ukraine’s parliament passed a bill expanding education rights for national minorities, including Hungarian speakers.
The bill passed with the support of 266 lawmakers and still requires the president’s signature to become law.
Hungary had demanded changes to minority education rights before allowing further progress in Ukraine’s EU accession talks.
The vote could clear the way for the EU to open two more accession clusters with Ukraine and Moldova.
The bill covers official EU languages but not Russian.
- Who
- Ukraine’s parliament passed the bill. It affects national minorities, including the Hungarian-speaking community.
- What
- The bill expands minority-language rights in education and could help advance EU accession talks.
- When
- Oct. 12, 2026.
- Where
- Ukraine.
- Why
- Hungary had demanded changes to minority education rights before allowing further progress in Ukraine’s EU talks.
Hungary
Ukraine
Condition for further EU talks
Hungary
Hungary had blocked additional accession clusters until Ukraine began implementing changes to minority rights, starting with education.
Ukraine
Ukraine passed legislation expanding education rights for national minorities, a step it expects will help unblock two more clusters.
Peter Magyar’s pro-European Tisza party won Hungary’s parliamentary elections, providing new impetus to resolve the issue.
Kyiv and Budapest negotiated a bilateral agreement on the rights of Ukraine’s Hungarian minority.
Hungary lifted its veto, allowing the launch of the first and sixth EU accession clusters.
EU envoys preliminarily cleared the way for two more clusters.
Ukraine’s parliament passed the minority education bill with the support of 266 lawmakers.
The EU could formally launch the two additional clusters at an intergovernmental conference if Hungary lifts its blockade and consensus is reached.
- Parliamentary vote
- 266 lawmakers supported the bill
- Ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine
- Roughly 80,000 live in Zakarpattia Oblast
- Special school status
- May be granted where more than 50% of pupils study in the relevant minority language
- Languages covered
- Official EU languages, but not Russian
- Next possible EU step
- Two more accession clusters could be formally launched on Oct. 13
What people are saying
The bill "is the result of the bilateral agreement, which we negotiated with the Ukrainian side in May and June,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone on both sides, Hungarian and Ukrainian experts and politicians, who made this possible,
Sources
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