European Union ambassadors from the 27 member states agreed on Friday to officially open membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova next week. According to reports from Associated Press, the negotiations will begin on Monday in Luxembourg, marking a significant step forward for both countries' EU accession processes. The decision comes as both Ukraine and Moldova face pressure from Russia to remain within Moscow's orbit. EU Council President António Costa and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the move as "a recognition of the determination, courage and hard work shown by both countries in advancing reforms, even in the face of immense challenges." They characterized it as "a strategic choice that strengthens 'peace, security and prosperity across our continent,'" and noted it sends "a signal that the EU's offer of peace, stability and opportunity is unmatchable."
Ukraine views EU membership as an important security guarantee for a stable future once the war with Russia concludes. As reported by Associated Press, while Ukraine's best guarantee would be NATO membership, the Trump administration has insisted this cannot happen, and others oppose it while fighting continues. Russia is strongly against Ukraine joining NATO and has cited moves toward NATO membership as a reason for launching its full-scale invasion in 2022, though it has not objected to EU membership for Kyiv. The country officially applied for EU accession less than a week after Russia invaded in February 2022.
The accession process resumed after Hungary's new government, which took power in May, agreed last week to drop Prime Minister Viktor Orban's veto that had previously blocked negotiations. According to European Union News, Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar struck a deal with Kyiv on the rights of Ukraine's Hungarian ethnic minority last week, resolving a longstanding sticking point between the neighboring countries. However, Magyar has said Hungary does not support a fast-track procedure for Ukraine to join the EU and indicated Budapest will hold a referendum on Ukraine's membership, should it "succeed in closing all 33 accession chapters within the next 10 to 15 years."
Ukraine and European Union member states are expected to launch negotiations in mid-June on the reforms Kyiv should implement to comply with EU rule of law and fundamental rights standards. As reported by Associated Press, the talks will focus on the "fundamentals" cluster of EU laws and norms, including judicial independence, anti-corruption measures, democratic governance, civil society space, media freedom, non-discrimination and equality, and protection of rights in line with the EU Charter on Fundamental Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. Ukraine has made progress on its accession agenda, including adopting reform roadmaps on the rule of law and democratic institutions, but serious concerns remain about corruption scandals, pressure on anti-corruption activists, and restrictions on freedom of expression and independent media. Recent measures could undermine investigative reporting and enable Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), while a newly proposed Civil Code threatens rights of women, children, people with disabilities, and same-sex couples.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged EU partners to consider offering associate membership to Ukraine to breathe new life into talks aimed at ending more than four years of war with Russia. According to Associated Press, under Merz's proposals, Ukraine would participate in EU meetings but without voting rights and would also have non-voting associate members of the bloc's European Commission and European Parliament. Other countries including France and the Netherlands have suggested workarounds to bring Ukraine into the fold more quickly without full membership rights. This comes as the EU considers various approaches to engage with Russia while maintaining pressure on Moscow.
