EU approves opening of formal accession negotiations with Ukraine

The member states of the European Union are now all in agreement. The EU-27 is due to validate the framework for negotiations on Ukraine and Moldova's accession to the European Union (EU) at a meeting of the Council of Economics Ministers on Friday, June 21, Report informs via Le Monde.

According to the Belgian EU Presidency, the accession conferences with these two countries – which will officially launch the process – will be held on Tuesday, June 25.

With the war still raging in Ukraine and Western military aid still arriving in dribs and drabs, this commitment is very important for its president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has been calling for a clear sign from the EU-27 since January. In December 2023, heads of state and government agreed to open these negotiations following the well-timed exit from the boardroom of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who long opposed the decision.

Kyiv still had to meet a series of conditions concerning the fight against corruption and protection of minorities, which have since been met, according to the Commission.

The process comes just a few days before Hungary takes over the six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union on July 1. On Tuesday, June 18, Hungarian Minister for European Affairs Janos Boka indicated that opening negotiation chapters with Ukraine over the next six months would not be feasible. "Hungary has been constructive on this issue because it's hoping not to have to deal with it," said Engjellushe Morina, a specialist at the European Council on Foreign Relations research center. "It wants to focus on enlarging the EU across the western Balkan states."