World · Europe · 3 hrs ago
Ukraine passes minority rights law as EU accession talks advance
Ukraine’s parliament passed a law expanding the rights of Hungarian speakers and other minorities to receive education in their own languages.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed it into law on Monday.
The measure addresses a dispute over minority rights that had led Hungary to block progress on Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union.
Ukraine expects the EU to open further stages of accession talks on Tuesday.
The talks are part of a long process, and Ukraine will need to make broad reforms to meet EU rules.
Completing the 35 negotiation chapters would not guarantee membership: all 27 EU countries must agree to admit a new member.
Each country must then ratify the decision, through parliament or a referendum.
Ukraine’s parliament passed a law expanding national minorities’ rights, including education in their native languages.
The legislation removes a major hurdle in Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union.
The EU is expected to open further accession negotiation stages with Ukraine on Tuesday, October 13.
Hungary had blocked Ukraine’s membership bid over concerns about the rights of Hungarian speakers in western Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed the bill into law later on Monday.
- Who
- Ukraine’s parliament passed the law, and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed it. The EU is expected to open further accession talks with Ukraine.
- What
- Ukraine passed a law expanding minorities’ rights to receive education in their native languages.
- When
- Monday, October 12, 2026; the EU is expected to open further negotiation stages on Tuesday, October 13.
- Where
- Ukraine; a meeting between the Ukrainian and Hungarian foreign ministers took place in Luxembourg.
- Why
- The law addresses a major hurdle in Ukraine’s EU accession bid and concerns about the rights of Hungarian speakers.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Ukraine officially submitted its EU membership bid days after Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
Ukraine’s parliament passed legislation expanding minority education rights.
Zelenskiy signed the bill into law later that day.
The EU is expected to open further negotiation stages with Ukraine.
- Legislation
- Expands minority rights to education in native languages
- EU talks
- Further negotiation stages expected to open October 13, 2026
- Hungarian minority
- Hungarian speakers in western Ukraine
- Earlier membership bid
- Submitted days after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022
- EU accession process
- 35 negotiation chapters must be completed and all 27 member states must agree to admit a new member
What people are saying
today’s decision by EU Member States to open two further negotiation clusters with Ukraine and Moldova
We welcome today's important step by the Ukrainian Parliament on minority education rights
We look forward to opening all remaining clusters as soon as possible
Your future lies in the EU. Let's keep up the momentum!
Sources
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