The European Union began membership negotiations with Ukraine on Tuesday, marking a significant step a decade after Russia's annexation of Crimea, which was intended to halt Ukraine's westward shift.
The accession talks for Ukraine began during an intergovernmental conference in Luxembourg. Moldova is also slated to start its membership discussions later on Tuesday. While these discussions signify crucial progress towards European integration, the process is expected to span several years.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, addressing the conference via video-link, hailed the day as “historic,” emphasizing it as a new chapter in Ukraine's relationship with the EU.
Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency, described the moment as historic for all parties involved and a significant milestone in their relations. She condemned Russia's “unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression” against Ukraine and praised the resilience of the Ukrainian people, affirming the EU's commitment to supporting Ukraine as long and as intensively as necessary.
Leading Ukraine's delegation in Luxembourg was Olga Stefanishyna, deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration. She emphasized the national unity behind this decision, describing it as a truly historic moment for Ukraine.
The conference marks the beginning of the process to align Ukraine's laws and standards with those of the EU. Corruption remains a primary concern for the 27-member bloc.
Both Ukraine and Moldova applied for EU membership shortly after Russia's invasion in February 2022, with formal acknowledgment by EU leaders by June 2022. However, progress has been gradual, and full membership for Kyiv remains years away. Turkey’s lengthy accession process, has panned almost two decades without conclusion.
The initiation of talks is a strong gesture of solidarity with Ukraine, complementing the substantial financial support from the EU. It also underscores support for Moldova, which has faced its own Russian-related challenges.
Although the intergovernmental conference marks the start of talks, actual negotiations are not expected to commence for several months. Candidate countries must align their laws and standards with the EU across 35 policy areas, including the free movement of goods, fisheries, taxation, energy, the environment, judicial rights, and security.
All 27 EU member states must unanimously agree to open or close these chapters, allowing ample opportunity for individual countries to demand further work or delay proceedings. Hungary, poised to assume the EU’s rotating presidency in July, has frequently slowed EU and NATO support for Ukraine.
Ukraine aims for EU membership by 2030 but must first implement numerous institutional and legal reforms. The most significant of these reforms include combating corruption and overhauling public administration and the judiciary.
