EU launches Ukraine-Moldova membership negotiations

The European Union plans on Tuesday to formally launch membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, which aspire to join the bloc.

Ministers responsible for European affairs of the EU met in Luxembourg today, where Ukraine and Moldova membership negotiations are expected to be launched during the meeting.

The meeting comes ahead of the European summit scheduled for June 27-28.

Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib made press statements ahead of the meeting, which began in Luxembourg.

She said ministers would discuss preparations for the summit, which will reshape EU governance after the European Parliament elections.

She also described the day as historic and said Ukraine-Moldova membership negotiations would be launched within the framework of the meeting.

Hungarian European Affairs Minister Janos Boca said in a statement before the meeting that Ukraine is far from meeting the criteria for accession.

He avoided providing a clear answer to the question of whether his country would continue to block the launch of negotiations through its Veto.

Ukraine and Moldova applied for EU membership after the Russian attack on Ukraine, and received candidate state status on June 23, 2022.

The decision to start membership negotiations at the EU summit was made on December 23, 2023, but couldn’t be officially launched due to Hungary’s obstruction.

The European Commission recently announced that the two countries had met all the necessary criteria to formally start negotiations.

With the EU’s rotating presidency moving from Belgium to Hungary on the first of July, efforts by Belgium and the EU Commission have been intensified to start negotiations as soon as possible.

The framework document for negotiations, which sets out the principles, procedures and basic chapters of the negotiation process, is expected to be adopted today at the intergovernmental conference to be held first with Ukraine and then with Moldova.