EU ambassadors have agreed on the framework for EU accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova, paving the way for discussions to commence on June 25, as announced by the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU on June 14.
EU and Ukrainian officials are reportedly advocating for the talks to begin by June 25, ahead of Hungary assuming the presidency of the Council of the EU in July.
“Ambassadors agreed in principle on the negotiating frameworks for the accession negotiations of Ukraine and Moldova,” the Belgian presidency stated on X. “The Belgian presidency will convene the first intergovernmental conferences on June 25.”
On June 7, the European Commission expressed its support for starting accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova.
To initiate these talks, the EU must unanimously agree that Ukraine has taken sufficient measures to address issues such as corruption and the protection of minority languages. Hungary is anticipated to raise objections, particularly concerning minority rights.
Budapest has repeatedly claimed that the Hungarian ethnic minority in southwestern Ukraine faces discrimination due to Kyiv’s language laws. Ukraine denies these allegations and updated its national minorities law at the end of 2023 by the EU’s recommendations.
Ukraine was granted EU membership candidate status in June 2022. In November 2023, the European Commission recommended starting accession talks with Kyiv, and the European Council agreed in December to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.