European Union member states have agreed to open the second and third negotiating clusters for Ukraine and Moldova as part of their EU accession process. These are Cluster 2, “Internal Market”, and Cluster 3, “Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth”.
The announcement was made by Ireland’s Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence Thomas Byrne.
Ireland currently holds the presidency of the Council of the EU. Draft EU common positions on opening the “Internal Market” and “Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth” clusters were submitted for consideration by the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU member states on October 12.
Earlier in the day, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv was awaiting an official EU decision on opening the second and third negotiating clusters.
According to the press service of the Verkhovna Rada, on October 12 parliament adopted at both first reading and in full Law No. 16119 on ensuring the educational rights of indigenous peoples and persons belonging to national minorities. It expands opportunities to use the languages of national minorities that are official EU languages, as well as the languages of Ukraine’s indigenous peoples, in the educational process.
The law also defines the status of relevant general secondary education institutions, provides for national history, culture and traditions to be reflected in educational programmes, and guarantees the possibility of continuing education in the respective language if an educational institution is reorganised or closed.
Ukrainian and European Union flags outside the European Parliament building / Photo: Depositphotos
