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Hungary drops its veto on Ukraine in exchange for one schools law. The law would cover about 149 schools
Under a Ukraine-Hungary deal reported on 1-2 October 2026 by European Pravda and by officials of both governments, Hungary will stop blocking two clusters of Ukraine's EU accession talks (Cluster 2, Internal Market, and Cluster 3, Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth), and Ukraine will pass bill No. 16119 on minority education by 12 October. According to Interfax-Ukraine, the law would cover about 149 schools, 1.2 percent of Ukraine's general secondary schools. The first step is scheduled for 6 October in an EU working party in Brussels, with a decision expected on 13 October in Luxembourg. Hungary's opposition Fidesz says in a statement that Ukraine is set to hoodwink the Tisza government once again.
One EU member has blocked Ukraine from starting single-market talks since July, and the price for lifting that veto is a law covering about 149 schools.
This is not only a dispute between Ukraine and Hungary. In our reading, the case shows what one country's signature can cost when the EU enlarges.