The European Commission is planning to recommend starting negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union in June, before Hungary takes over the presidency of the bloc.
This was reported by the Financial Times, citing three sources familiar with the matter, Babel informs.
The European Commission will insist on starting official talks this month to send a positive signal to Ukraine. Today, June 7, the Commission is expected to confirm that Ukraine meets previously unfulfilled criteria – anti-corruption measures, restrictions on political lobbying, asset declaration rules for public officials, and protection of minority languages.
The European Commission will also recommend starting EU accession talks with Moldova, but not with Georgia, which recently passed a controversial law on “foreign agents.”
Brussels’ recommendation requires unanimity from all EU member states. Hungary is expected to oppose the start of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU because of the situation with the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine. And given that Hungary takes over the EU presidency on July 1, it will have additional leverage to set the agenda for meetings that discuss issues related to Ukraine. Despite the potential obstacles, Belgium, which currently holds the EU presidency, hopes to reach an agreement and hold the first round of accession talks on June 25.
In March 2024, the European Commission prepared a negotiation framework for Ukraine’s membership in the EU. And in May, Belgium, which currently holds the EU presidency, confirmed its intention to organize an intergovernmental conference with Ukraine in June. That is, the actual start of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU should take place before the end of the Belgian presidency.
