Negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to EU may start in June – Ukrainian minister

The New Voice of Ukraine
·2 min read
EU
EU

In June, EU countries may propose a negotiation framework to initiate Ukraine’s accession process to the EU, Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna said, news outlet Hromadske reported on April 16.

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She also announced her trip to Brussels this week for a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

In this regard, Ukraine has “quite optimistic forecasts,” she added.

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At the same time, the head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova, said that Ukraine needs to carry out “fundamental reforms of institutions” to improve the rule of law and the judicial system to join the EU.

“This is not a secret; this is openly discussed and is required not only from Ukraine but from everyone who wants to join the EU,” she said.

Ukraine’s accession to the European Union

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope to start negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU in the first half of this year on March 13.

The European Commission officially presented the negotiation framework for Ukraine’s and Moldova’s accession to the EU on March 12. It sets out the guidelines and framework for accession negotiations with each candidate country.

Now, the EU Council must start internal discussion of drafts and approve them. After that, the state holding the Council presidency will present the agreed common EU position at the first intergovernmental conference with each country, marking the formal start of accession negotiations.

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The European Commission recommended starting negotiations on Ukraine and Moldova’s accession to the EU on Nov. 8.

The European Council supported the start of negotiations on Ukraine’s membership in the EU by 26 votes on Dec. 14. During the voting process, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban walked out of the room.

Zelenskyy has repeatedly stated that fulfilling the EU’s conditions for starting negotiations is Ukraine’s priority. At the same time, European Council President Charles Michel mentioned that Ukraine could join the European Union in 2030.

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