BRUSSELS, June 12 – Representatives from all 27 European Union member countries voted Friday to begin formal membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, with initial discussions scheduled to start Monday.
While Ukraine remains engaged in military conflict against Russia’s invasion, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has prioritized EU membership as a central strategic objective to secure his nation’s position within Europe’s political framework.
European Union leadership approved opening membership discussions with both Ukraine and Moldova in December 2023, however formal negotiations were delayed due to Hungary’s previous government blocking Ukraine’s membership application.
A newly formed government in Budapest recently reached a deal with Kyiv regarding Hungarian minority rights within Ukraine, allowing Hungary to remove its objection to beginning the initial phase of membership negotiations.
During Friday’s meeting in Brussels, the representatives authorized both nations to start discussions on the first group of policy areas requiring legal reforms to align with EU requirements.
The membership process involves candidate nations negotiating various policy sections organized into six themed groups, addressing topics such as fundamental rights, internal market operations, and external relations.
“Today, the European Union took a major step forward,” European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a joint statement.
“At the first Intergovernmental Conference on Monday, we will open the cluster on fundamentals; the backbone of the accession process,” they said.
European Union membership negotiations typically require extended timeframes and involve years of reform implementation and meeting European requirements.
Costa and von der Leyen described Friday’s decision as “a recognition of the determination, courage and hard work shown by both countries in advancing reforms, even in the face of immense challenges. And a signal that the EU’s offer of peace, stability and opportunity is unmatchable”.
