Ukraine began negotiations to join the European Union on Tuesday (June 25th). Ministers from EU countries met with Ukrainian officials in Luxembourg to officially kick off the accession talks. However, the negotiations themselves are expected to be a lengthy and challenging process, likely taking several years.
The ceremony in Luxembourg was merely symbolic, not substantive negotiations. The actual start of negotiations will only happen after the EU reviews a significant amount of Ukrainian legislation and evaluates whether necessary reforms meet EU standards. Nevertheless, for Ukraine, which has suffered from war and aggression, the initiation of negotiations serves as a significant driving force in its resistance against Russian invasion.
On that day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on social media platform X, “Today is a historic day as we will engage in practical, real negotiations with the EU on Ukraine’s accession… I thank all those who defend Ukraine, our country, and our people. I appreciate the team that has worked tirelessly to make us a part of the European Union. We will never stray from our path towards a united Europe, towards a common home for all European countries. This home must be peaceful!”
Olga Stefanishyna, the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine responsible for EU integration, led the Ukrainian delegation at the accession meeting. The neighboring country of Moldova was represented by Prime Minister Dorin Recean in the delegation participating in the accession negotiations.
In the upcoming accession talks, the EU will initiate a process to review to what extent Ukraine and Moldova meet EU standards politically, economically, and legally, and how much work remains to be done. Subsequently, the EU will begin setting conditions for negotiations in 35 policy areas ranging from taxation to the environment.
Ukraine’s desire to break away from Russia and move towards EU integration dates back to the 2014 Euromaidan protests when pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych abandoned a political and free trade agreement with the EU, choosing to strengthen ties with Russia instead, leading to his overthrow by protesting citizens.
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukraine promptly applied for EU membership, followed closely by Moldova. The EU Commission proposed the start of accession talks for the two countries in November last year. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban initially opposed Ukraine’s accession talks, but at the EU summit in December last year, Hungary abstained from voting, allowing the negotiations to begin.
Earlier this month, Orban stated in a parliamentary speech that the EU Commission had set seven conditions for Ukraine to become a candidate country, of which Ukraine only met four. Therefore, he argued that the EU should not grant candidate status to Ukraine, let alone initiate accession negotiations.
The EU presidency rotates every six months, with Belgium taking on the role since January 1st this year, to be succeeded by Hungary on July 1st. According to Reuters, the EU Commission aims to commence negotiations before Hungary assumes the presidency.
Currently, the EU consists of 27 member states. EU candidate countries include Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Turkey, Serbia, Ukraine, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia. As for how long negotiations will take for these countries to officially become EU members, that remains uncertain at this point.