Europe EU starts accession negotiations with Ukraine
The European Union has opened accession negotiations with Ukraine. Representatives of the country attacked by Russia and the EU met in Luxembourg on Tuesday for the first so-called intergovernmental conference.
25.06.2024, 16:04
SDA
"This is a historic moment for all of us and a milestone in our relationship," said Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib on behalf of the EU at the start of the talks. The enlargement process is a geopolitical investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity.
How long the accession negotiations will take and whether they can be brought to a successful conclusion at all remains to be seen. EU accession negotiations with Turkey, for example, were launched back in 2005 - but are now completely on hold following the country's continued setbacks in the areas of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights.
A great day for Ukraine
For the people of Ukraine, the opening of EU accession negotiations is nevertheless an important sign that it is worth continuing the defensive struggle against Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had already spoken of a "historic event" on Monday. "This is the day that Ukraine has been working towards for decades. And now it is becoming a reality. Ukraine will never be dissuaded from the path to a united Europe, to our common home for all European nations," he said in a video message broadcast in Kiev.
Belgian Foreign Minister Lahbib recalled on Tuesday that further progress in the accession process is linked to the fulfillment of conditions and can theoretically be reversed. "The EU expects Ukraine to continue to take responsibility and demonstrate the credibility of its commitments and political will by implementing the necessary reforms (...)," she said.
EU calls for further reforms
As concrete examples, she cited reforms in the areas of the rule of law and fundamental rights, the strengthening of democratic institutions and a reform of public administration. Particular attention should therefore be paid to judicial reform, the fight against corruption and the protection and non-discriminatory treatment of national minorities. The latter point is particularly important for the EU country Hungary, which considers a Hungarian minority in Ukraine to be disadvantaged and has repeatedly threatened to block the accession process.
On the agenda of the first intergovernmental conference on Tuesday was a presentation of the guidelines and principles for the negotiations by the EU. According to diplomats, the first substantive talks are likely to begin within the next twelve months. Until then, the EU Commission still has to examine in a so-called screening to what extent the national law of the candidate countries still deviates from EU law.
Negotiations also with Moldova
After Ukraine, its small neighbor Moldova should also be able to celebrate the start of EU accession negotiations this evening. Both countries recently cleared important hurdles in the accession process at the same time.
