Ukraine passes minority language education bill, clearing path for EU talks

The Ukrainian parliament has passed legislation expanding native-language education rights for national minorities, securing 266 votes in the 450-seat legislature. The bill guarantees instruction in minority languages across schools and permits educational certificates to be issued in those languages.

The adoption of the law addresses a key demand from Budapest, which had previously indicated it would unblock the opening of the second and third clusters of Ukraine's European Union accession negotiations once the measure was approved. By resolving long-standing diplomatic tensions regarding minority rights, the legislative breakthrough removes a major barrier to Kyiv's EU integration process and paves the way for upcoming diplomatic meetings between Hungarian and Ukrainian leadership.

Sources: 444, HVG, Telex