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Ukraine and Moldova have met the requirements for starting negotiations to join the EU, the European Commission said Friday, adding that it’s now up to member countries to make it happen.
“All the steps have been met by the two countries,” Commission spokesperson Ana Pisonero said, referencing the implementation of reforms in Kyiv and Chișinău to fight corruption and support minority rights.
The decision to move forward is now “in the hands of the member states,” Pisonero continued.
For accession talks to start, all 27 member countries must agree on the negotiating framework to convene an intergovernmental conference with Ukraine and Moldova. EU diplomats are pushing to do so as soon as the end of June, with an ambassadors’ discussion penciled in for June 12 to iron out any concerns member countries have.
A roadblock may emerge, however, in the form of Russia-friendly Hungary, which has adamantly opposed Kyiv’s entry to the bloc and could delay the start of the talks. Budapest will also take its turn at the helm of the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the EU at the start of July.
Ukraine applied to join the EU in February 2022, days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion. Moldova applied shortly after, in March 2022. Both were granted candidate status in June 2023 — a lightning-fast decision by EU standards spurred by Moscow’s aggression.
The Commission also gave a positive update on Montenegro’s EU candidacy and recommended holding an intergovernmental conference with Podgorica to green-light the next stage of accession, Montenegrin media reported Friday. Montenegro was granted candidate status in 2010.
This article has been updated.
