The European Union has scaled back its ambitions for Ukraine's accession talks, now targeting the opening of just two negotiating clusters in July rather than five.
The revised timetable in Brussels aims at unlocking Cluster 6 (external relations) and Cluster 2 (internal market) before the summer break, several officials and diplomats told Euronews, with the remaining three tackled gradually afterwards.
Ukraine and Moldova, which are informally paired, opened Cluster 1 (fundamentals) earlier this month after a two-year wait under Hungary's veto.
The change of plans comes as the new government in Budapest signalled several times, both publicly and privately, its opposition to fast-tracking Ukraine's membership bid.
Hungary has yet to sign the joint letters necessary to unblock the different clusters. The refusal was confirmed on Tuesday during a working group meeting between member states, which left the process on hold for now.
