Ukraine and Moldova to enter first phase of EU membership negotiations | Europe
Ukraine and Moldova, which have started the first phase of membership negotiations, will take a decisive step towards joining the EU on Monday.
The start of substantive negotiations, which were launched in Luxembourg on Monday by senior EU officials and ministers from both countries, will be a highly symbolic moment for the two countries, both part of the former Soviet Union. This came after Russia intensified its bombardment of Ukrainian towns and cities, incurring huge losses for little territorial gain.
Ukraine and Moldova, which applied days after Russia’s full-scale invasion, were quickly accepted as EU candidate countries in 2022. But despite the symbolic decision to open talks in June 2024, substantive negotiations have been blocked by Hungary’s pro-Russian president, Viktor Orbán.
The election of a new Hungarian government in April paved the way for EU member states to agree unanimously last Friday to open the “first cluster” – sections of the EU rulebook covering the rule of law and democracy. The launch of this cluster opens the door to discussions in other areas such as the single market, environment, economic and social policy.
In a joint statement on Friday, EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa praised the “determination, courage and hard work that both countries have shown in pushing forward reforms even in the face of huge challenges.”
“Expansion is a strategic choice,” they said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: “Ukraine is doing what is necessary, and it is important that the EU keeps its promise. The opening of the first cluster is an important political and moral support for our state and our people.”
Heather Grabbe, a former adviser to the European Commission on enlargement, said the opening of the first cluster was really important. “This is the beginning of the process of reaching agreement for membership. So this is very important.”
Grabbe, who is also a senior member of the Bruegel think tank, said the start of negotiations would also be a reality check for the Ukrainian side. “You cannot short-circuit the process of adoption, implementation and enforcement of EU laws on Ukrainian territory. And it will take some time to do it. It will also cost administratively.”
To join the EU, a country must adopt thousands of European laws and decisions, then gain the unanimous consent of existing members.
EU officials praised Ukraine and Moldova’s reform efforts. High-profile arrests in Ukraine, such as Zelenskyy’s private secretary Andriy Yermak, who was named as a suspect in a major corruption investigation last month, are seen as positive signs that authorities are taking anti-corruption investigations seriously. Yermak denied all allegations.
But the praise was overshadowed by disappointment that Kiev did not move faster on 10 priority reforms agreed last December.
EU officials think Ukraine has completed only 15% of the reforms included in the agreement 10 point plan An agreement was reached last December between Marta Kos, the EU enlargement member, and Ukrainian deputy prime minister Taras Kachka. The plan includes measures to strengthen the independence of anti-corruption institutions Nabu and Sapo, the adoption of an anti-corruption strategy and reforms in the appointment processes of judges and prosecutors.
Officials also believe that Ukraine, with sufficient will, could complete technical talks in about four years, while also acknowledging that membership is ultimately a political decision.
German chancellor Friedrich Merz’s proposal for Ukraine to gain “associate membership” (representation in EU institutions without voting rights as a step towards full participation) failed in other national capitals. However, the fact that Ukraine, like other EU candidate countries, is already involved in some EU policies shows that the idea of ”gradual membership” is gaining traction.
Grabbe argued that the EU should adopt a security-first approach towards Ukraine and integrate its eastern neighbor into its security and defense policy, where EU law is quite lenient.
He said: “Given that Ukraine is the most serious security and defense player on the continent, the only country with battlefield-experienced troops and a serious arsenal of effective weapons in the modern battlefield dominated by drones, the worst thing that could happen for European security is for a future Ukrainian government to turn against the EU and become Eurosceptic.”
He added: “They will not turn to Russia, but if they become disillusioned with the EU it would be a disaster for the security of Europe. The EU needs Ukraine as much as Ukraine needs the EU to guarantee our future security.”
