Overview

• European Council President António Costa has canvassed EU capitals and raised the issue with leaders at the UN General Assembly ahead of a Copenhagen summit this week, even as a DW report cited by TASS says some in the bloc view Budapest’s veto as unbreakable.
• His proposal would allow a qualified majority of member states to open negotiating clusters in accession talks, while closure of each cluster would still require unanimity.
• EU enlargement chief Marta Kos says Ukraine has completed screening of all clusters and is ready for the next step, calling on governments to grant approval.
• Hungary maintains its opposition to fast-tracking Ukraine; Prime Minister Viktor Orbán blocked a June 26 EU statement that would have opened talks, and a government-run referendum reported about 95% against accelerated admission.
• Moldova’s bid, formally linked to Ukraine’s, gained political momentum after the pro-EU PAS party secured a renewed parliamentary majority, and its accession chief urged EU leaders to unblock both tracks.