The European Union’s executive arm has informed member states that Ukraine and Moldova have met all the criteria needed to start negotiations to join the bloc.
Several EU countries, including Poland, have been urging the 27-nation bloc to formally commence talks on June 25, following a landmark decision made by leaders in December to initiate negotiations.
Just recently, the European affairs ministers from 12 member states (including Poland) wrote a letter to Brussels, pressing the bloc to open membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.
The ministers argued that starting the negotiations would further boost the confidence of the two countries to enact the required reforms.
Now, in an update provided to EU ambassadors on Friday, the EU’s executive arm (the European Commission) has confirmed that Kyiv and Chișinău have met all the outstanding requirements needed to initiate membership negotiations. This includes efforts to limit the influence of oligarchs and better ensure the rights of ethnic minorities.
A spokeswoman for the European Commission said: “We consider that all the steps have been met by the two countries.”
She added: “Now the decision is in the hands of the member states.”
The European Commission had outlined a set of reforms for Ukraine and its neighboring ex-Soviet state, Moldova, to complete before the talks could begin.
However, as this process requires the unanimous support of all member states, there remains a final hurdle for Kyiv—that of Hungary, a country known for close ties with Russia, and which has consistently withheld support for Ukraine.
In fact the issue of minority rights has remained a significant point of contention for Budapest, which has continuously voiced concerns about the alleged mistreatment of the Hungarian community in Ukraine.
Therefore, despite Brussels confirming that Kyiv has fulfilled all requirements, this doesn’t guarantee approval from Hungary.
Considering that Hungary will assume the EU’s rotating presidency in July, some member states would like the process to be accelerated as they fear Budapest may create further obstacles once it takes the helm.
Both Ukraine and Moldova submitted their applications to join the EU shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Initiating negotiations would mark just the beginning of what is expected to be a lengthy process of reforms for the two countries before they can attain membership.
Just recently, the European affairs ministers from 12 member states (including Poland) wrote a letter to Brussels, pressing the bloc to open membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.
The ministers argued that starting the negotiations would further boost the confidence of the two countries to enact the required reforms.
Now, in an update provided to EU ambassadors on Friday, the EU’s executive arm (the European Commission) has confirmed that Kyiv and Chișinău have met all the outstanding requirements needed to initiate membership negotiations. This includes efforts to limit the influence of oligarchs and better ensure the rights of ethnic minorities.
A spokeswoman for the European Commission said: “We consider that all the steps have been met by the two countries.”
She added: “Now the decision is in the hands of the member states.”
The European Commission had outlined a set of reforms for Ukraine and its neighboring ex-Soviet state, Moldova, to complete before the talks could begin.
However, as this process requires the unanimous support of all member states, there remains a final hurdle for Kyiv—that of Hungary, a country known for close ties with Russia, and which has consistently withheld support for Ukraine.
In fact the issue of minority rights has remained a significant point of contention for Budapest, which has continuously voiced concerns about the alleged mistreatment of the Hungarian community in Ukraine.
Therefore, despite Brussels confirming that Kyiv has fulfilled all requirements, this doesn’t guarantee approval from Hungary.
Considering that Hungary will assume the EU’s rotating presidency in July, some member states would like the process to be accelerated as they fear Budapest may create further obstacles once it takes the helm.
Both Ukraine and Moldova submitted their applications to join the EU shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Initiating negotiations would mark just the beginning of what is expected to be a lengthy process of reforms for the two countries before they can attain membership.
Source: Kyiv Post, TVP World
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