Hungary has agreed to open another cluster of European Union accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova.

Axar.az reports, citing Hungarian media, that EU member states unanimously decided to open the sixth negotiation cluster, titled “External Relations,” with both countries.

Commenting on the decision, former Hungarian Minister for European Union Affairs Janos Boka noted that the new cluster will be formally opened on July 14, less than a month after the launch of the first cluster.

“With two of the six clusters now open, Ukraine has effectively caught up with Serbia in the accession process and has already moved ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Kosovo,” Boka said.

In an apparent reference to the pace of the process, he added ironically: “But let no one get the wrong idea. This is not an accelerated accession process; it is strictly merit-based.”