The ambassadors of the 27 EU member states agreed in Brussels on Friday to open the first negotiation chapter with Ukraine and Moldova. This follows a two-year blockade by Hungary, which has dropped its veto against the talks. On Monday, separate intergovernmental conferences with both countries will take place in Luxembourg.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa stated that opening the so-called “fundamentals” cluster covers the Union’s core values, including the rule of law and democratic institutions. “This is a recognition of the determination and courage of both countries in implementing reforms,” the two said in a joint statement.
The agreement among EU states includes a roadmap on the rule of law and an action plan on minority rights, which had previously been a central point of contention between Budapest and Kyiv. Ukraine has announced that it aims to open all negotiation clusters by this summer.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for Taras Kachka expressed gratitude for the support and unity of all EU members. The Cypriot Council Presidency also plans to open another cluster before the end of the month. The entire accession process comprises six thematic clusters with a total of 33 chapters.
However, there will be no accelerated procedure as compensation for the Hungarian blockade, as member states want to maintain the integrity and credibility of the merit-based negotiations.
Source: www.deutschlandfunk.de
