BRUSSELS — Ukraine is set to officially begin membership talks with the European Union on Tuesday, in what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described as a dream come true for his country’s citizens, after more than two years of a war with russia.
Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olga Stefanishyna will lead Ukraine’s delegation to an intergovernmental conference in Luxembourg that will mark the official opening of talks to align the country’s laws and standards with those of the 27-nation bloc.
A few hours later, Moldovawhich applied to join the EU after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and was granted candidate status four months later, will participate in a separate intergovernmental conference to officially launch its own accession process.
Ukraine also sought candidate status in the days after the Russian invasion. By June 2022, EU leaders I had achieved it quickly official. But things have moved more slowly since then and membership, if achieved, could take years to arrive.
Türkiye’s accession talks have lasted almost two decades without result.
Still, starting the talks process is sending another strong signal of solidarity with Ukraine beyond the billions in financial support the EU has provided. It is also a show of support for Moldova, which has faced its own challenges with Russia.
“Generations of our people are making their European dream come true. “Ukraine is coming back to Europe,” Zelenskyy said in an online post after EU member states agreed on Friday to start talks.
Tuesday’s intergovernmental conference marks the start of talks, but the negotiations themselves are unlikely to begin for a few months.
Candidate countries must align their laws and standards with those of the EU in 35 policy areas, known as chapters, ranging from the free movement of goods through fisheries, taxes, energy and the environment to judicial rights and security.
All 27 member countries must give unanimous agreement to open or close chapters, providing ample opportunity for EU nations to demand more work or delay procedures.
Ukraine, which borders EU members Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania, would overtake France to become the bloc’s largest member if it joined, shifting its center of gravity further east. As the main cereal producer, its entry would have a huge impact on EU agricultural policy.
Together with Moldova, Ukraine is part of a long list of applicants to join the EU (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey) with membership aspirations for years and who have felt Left behind for the rapid progress of kyiv.
Ukraine wants to join in 2030, but first it must carry out dozens of institutional and legal reforms. That huge list is headed by steps to fight corruption, and includes extensive reforms to public administration and the judiciary.
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