Ukraine’s accession to the EU: the government has set deadlines for meeting key criteria
16 June 06:46
It may take Ukraine about two years to meet the interim and final criteria for accession negotiations with the European Union. These are the so-called benchmarks that must be met within the negotiation process across six clusters.
This was stated by Taras Kachka, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, following the Intergovernmental Conference in Luxembourg, where the opening of the first negotiation cluster, “Fundamentals,” was officially announced, reports "Komersant Ukrainian"
How long might it take Ukraine
Taras Kachka explained that the timeline for meeting the criteria will depend on the specific negotiation cluster and the complexity of the necessary reforms.
According to him, in practice, this could take anywhere from several months to several years.
“In my opinion, the average time for implementation is about two years,” the deputy prime minister said.
He cited 2028 as the tentative deadline.
What Are Benchmarks in Negotiations with the EU
Benchmarks are interim and final criteria that a candidate country must meet during EU accession negotiations.
They concern not only the adoption of laws but also their practical implementation. That is why the process may take longer than the formal vote on the necessary bills.
For Ukraine, this means that it must not only adapt its legislation to European standards but also demonstrate that these changes are actually effective.
The government aims to complete the legislative phase by the end of 2027
Kachka recalled that the Ukrainian government had previously set a goal to ensure the adoption of the necessary legislation and begin its implementation by the end of 2027.
“I hope we can achieve this in cooperation with our parliament. And I also hope that the opening of the clusters will accelerate the legislative work underway in the Ukrainian government and parliament,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.
EU Opens First Negotiation Cluster for Ukraine
On June 15, the European Union opened the first “Fundamentals” negotiation cluster for Ukraine and Moldova. This marked an important milestone in the European integration process.
The “Fundamentals” cluster is key to membership negotiations, as it covers the basic areas without which further progress toward the EU is impossible.
These include:
- the rule of law;
- judicial reform;
- fundamental rights;
- the functioning of democratic institutions;
- public administration reform;
- economic criteria;
- public procurement;
- statistics;
- financial control.
Why the first cluster is important
The “Fundamentals” cluster is the first to be opened and the last to be closed. It is based on this cluster that the EU assesses how ready a candidate country is for deep integration into the European legal, political, and economic system.
For Ukraine, this means that reforms in the areas of justice, anti-corruption, public administration, human rights protection, and the functioning of democratic institutions remain key.
Without progress in these areas, it will be difficult to move forward on other negotiation tracks.
How many negotiation clusters are there?
EU accession negotiations consist of six clusters. They cover various areas of public policy, the economy, the internal market, competition, the environment, agriculture, external relations, and other areas.
Ukraine must meet the requirements for each of them. Some criteria can be met more quickly, but certain reforms will require more time due to the complexity of legislative and practical changes.
What has changed since the intergovernmental conference
The opening of the first cluster means that Ukraine is moving into a more practical phase of negotiations. Whereas the process was previously largely preparatory and political, meeting specific criteria is now key.
Ukraine must demonstrate to the EU not only its readiness to pass laws, but also its ability to ensure their effective implementation.
Read us on Telegram: important topics – without censorship
