EU accession negotiations start today: what Ukraine has to do
25 June 2024 16:41
On Tuesday, 25 June, Luxembourg will host the first Intergovernmental Conference on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. It will mark the official start of negotiations on Ukraine’s membership in the EU, reports "Komersant Ukrainian" reports with reference to Yevropeiska Pravda.
The prerequisite for this event was the approval by the EU Council of the negotiation framework for Ukraine and Moldova on 21 June. This decision paved the way for the formal start of accession talks between the two countries.
The conference with Ukraine is scheduled for 16:30 Kyiv time. It will be followed by a similar conference on Moldova’s accession to the EU at 19:00.
The structure of the conference will consist of three main parts. First, a representative of Belgium, which currently holds the EU presidency, will make an opening statement. Then Ukraine will take the floor to make a statement. Finally, representatives of the EU member states will have the opportunity to make comments and remarks.
At this conference, the European Union will present to Ukraine a general framework for the negotiations, which will define the key principles of the entire negotiation process.
The Ukrainian delegation will be headed by the Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Olga Stefanishyna. The European side will be represented by Belgian Foreign Minister Aja Labib.
Although this conference will formally launch the negotiations, the actual negotiations will only begin with the opening of specific negotiating chapters. The first chapters and clusters to be opened are those dealing with fundamental issues of the European Union.
According to the Ukrainian side’s optimistic forecasts, the opening of the first chapters or the first cluster may take place in early 2025.
It is worth noting that the negotiations will start before Hungary takes over the EU presidency from Belgium on 1 July. This is important as Hungary is known for its scepticism towards Ukraine’s European integration, and its presidency could complicate the EU’s decision-making process on Ukraine.
Today is a historic day as we move to actual, real negotiations with the European Union on Ukraine’s membership. on 28 February 2022, a few days after the start of the full-scale invasion, we signed the application for membership. Almost two years ago, in June 2022, we gained candidacy, and last December we received a political decision on negotiations. But it is from today that our membership in the European Union will begin: the first intergovernmental conference between Ukraine and the EU is today.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy
“We are on the eve of a remarkable moment for Ukraine and Moldova, as well as for our union. The people of Ukraine and Moldova have demonstrated unwavering confidence in their desire to be part of our project. The negotiations are designed to prepare candidates for the responsibilities of membership. That is why there are no shortcuts. This path will be full of difficulties, but it will contain many opportunities for Moldova and Ukraine.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen
A brief history of Ukraine’s European integration
After gaining independence in 1991, Ukraine began to develop its relations with the European Union. In 1994, a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement was signed, which entered into force in 1998.
In 2003, the EU offered Ukraine the Wider Europe Policy, which later evolved into the European Neighbourhood Policy. It provided for closer ties, but without the prospect of membership.
In 2005, the EU-Ukraine Action Plan under the European Neighbourhood Policy was adopted. This document defined specific steps to deepen Ukraine’s integration with the EU in various areas.
In 2007, negotiations began on a new and enhanced agreement, which later became the Association Agreement. These negotiations lasted for several years.
In 2009, the EU launched the Eastern Partnership initiative aimed at deepening relations with six countries, including Ukraine. This was an important step on the way to signing the Association Agreement and obtaining a visa-free regime.
In November 2013, the government’s decision to suspend preparations for the signing of the Association Agreement led to mass protests known as Euromaidan. As a result of these events, the Agreement was signed in 2014. After the signing of the Agreement, Ukraine began the process of its implementation, which included reforms in various areas to bring it closer to EU standards.
In June 2022, against the backdrop of a full-scale Russian invasion, Ukraine was granted candidate status for EU membership.
on 14 December 2023, at a summit in Brussels, the leaders of the European Union approved the start of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
on 12 March, the European Commission officially presented the negotiating framework for Ukraine’s accession to the EU. It sets out the guiding principles and framework for accession negotiations with each candidate country.
The European Council called on other EU member states to quickly endorse the negotiating framework for Ukraine’s accession to the EU as soon as it is presented.
What’s next?
According to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Ukraine has the following stages to go on its way to EU membership.
In progress:
- expected from July 2024 – bilateral meetings where Ukraine presents to the EU the state of compliance of national legislation with EU law in each negotiated chapter;
- by October 2024 – Ukraine implements the recommendations of the European Commission as part of the Enlargement Package;
- expected in early 2025 – the European Commission presents a report on the compliance of Ukrainian legislation with EU law for each negotiated chapter.
Future steps:
- Ukraine and the EU negotiate Ukraine’s accession to the EU until all negotiating clusters are closed;
- The European Commission presents its opinion on Ukraine’s readiness to join the EU;
- the EU Member States and the European Parliament unanimously decide to sign the Accession Agreement with Ukraine;
- The European Parliament and the national parliaments of all EU member states and Ukraine ratify the Accession Agreement.
If this scheme seems too complicated, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has simplified it to three steps that Ukraine has to take.
- the European Commission’s decision on the fulfilment of the accession criteria and the successful completion of negotiations;
- the decision to sign the EU-Ukraine Accession Agreement;
- ratification of the agreement by the parliaments of the member states.
