Hungary has again blocked the approval of screening results for clusters 2 and 3 for Ukraine, preventing the European Union from advancing the country’s accession talks.

Axar.az reports, citing Ukrainian media, that the decision was made at the first meeting of the EU Council’s Working Party on Enlargement and Countries Negotiating Accession (COELA) after the summer break.

Hungary agreed only to approve the screening results for cluster 3 for Moldova, as it did before the summer break. However, this approach, which would separate Ukraine and Moldova’s EU accession paths, is opposed by most EU member states, led by Ireland, which currently holds the Council presidency.

The Hungarian side cited the need for Kyiv to first fulfill an agreement concerning the rights of ethnic Hungarians as the reason.

It should be noted that the approval of all 27 EU member states is required to open each stage of the negotiations.

The next COELA meeting is scheduled for September 2, but Ukraine and Moldova are not on the agenda.