The ambassadors of the 27 European Union member states gave their approval on Friday to the launch of the first phase of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. The talks are scheduled to officially begin on Monday, marking a new step in the rapprochement between these two countries and the European bloc.
This decision comes as Ukraine, still engaged in a war against Russia, makes its integration into the European Union a major strategic objective. For Kyiv, EU membership represents a crucial political and economic foothold in the European space, beyond the military support provided by Western allies.
European leaders had already approved the principle of opening negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova in December 2023, but concrete discussions had been slowed, notably due to the reluctance of the previous Hungarian government. Budapest had blocked several advances related to Ukraine's accession process.
This deadlock was lifted this month following an agreement between Kyiv and the new Hungarian government regarding the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine. This agreement unblocked the situation and allowed the first phase of negotiations to begin.
According to the conclusions of Friday's meeting in Brussels, Ukraine and Moldova will now be able to begin discussions on the first set of political chapters. This stage focuses on adapting their legislation to European standards in several key areas.
The process of joining the European Union is generally long and complex, involving profound reforms in the legal, economic, and institutional spheres. Despite the ongoing war, European leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine on this path of gradual integration.
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