Ukraine's parliament passes a minority education law sought by Hungary, clearing way for new EU accession clusters

12 October 2026

Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada on 12 October 2026 passed a law strengthening the educational rights of national minorities, with 266 lawmakers in favour. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed it the same day. Schools where more than 50% of pupils study in a minority language may get special status, and the law covers official EU languages but not Russian. Hungary had demanded the step, mainly for Hungarians in Zakarpattia (Transcarpathia). Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said it would make it easier for Hungarian children there to use their mother tongue. The vote clears the way for the EU to open two more clusters, on internal market and competitiveness, for Ukraine and Moldova.