As Tagesspiegel reports, representatives of the EU and Ukraine started talks on the first thematic cluster in the evening in Luxembourg. A spokesman for the Council of Member States confirmed the step to the dpa news agency. The first negotiation section covers, among other things, the justice system, protection of fundamental values and security.
Ukraine must demonstrate that its legal system, border protection and police meet EU standards. After a two-year stalemate, the step is seen as an important signal to the country attacked by Russia that its reform efforts are worthwhile. Reforms, for example in fighting corruption, are necessary.
Formal accession negotiations had already been opened in June 2024, but Hungary blocked the first negotiation section with a veto. Only after the ouster of pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in April did the process gain momentum. Later in the evening, negotiations with Moldova were also scheduled to begin, a country that had also been waiting two years for the start.
Source: www.tagesspiegel.de
