EU Council Confirms Start of Accession Talks with Ukraine and Moldova

On 21 June, the Council of the European Union confirmed the mandate approved earlier at the EU ambassadors' level for negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova regarding their accession to the EU. The talks are set to commence on 25 June in Luxembourg, according to the European Commission.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the decision, stating that Ukraine "eagerly anticipates" next week, when Ukraine and the EU will hold their first intergovernmental conference to initiate the accession negotiations.

"Today, the 27 EU member states have approved the negotiating framework necessary to begin Ukraine's EU accession talks. I am grateful to the European Council and the current EU Presidency, Belgium, for their strong political will. Millions of Ukrainians, and generations of our people, will see their European dream come true. Ukraine is returning to Europe, where it has belonged for centuries, as a full-fledged member of the European community," Zelenskyy stated.

It is noteworthy that on 14 June, EU ambassadors agreed on the negotiating framework for the accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova.

Ukraine received EU candidate status on 23 June 2022. To join the EU, Ukraine must undertake a series of significant reforms, particularly concerning the rule of law, oligarchs, and corruption. Some of these reforms have already been implemented or are in progress.

The Gaze reported that Ukraine and the EU have completed work on the text of the Security Agreement and have agreed to sign it shortly. The Security Agreement with the EU will be concluded to fulfil the Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, adopted by the European Union and the G7 countries in Vilnius on 12 July 2023.