EU experts have begun detailed technical work that will shape intergovernmental talks on opening negotiation clusters for Ukraine and Moldova. The outcomes could determine whether the agreed July 14 timetable for opening five clusters proceeds as planned by member states.
The EU Council Working Group on Enlargement (COELA) on Wednesday, June 17, began reviewing the screening results of the unopened clusters for Ukraine and Moldova (clusters 2 to 6), thereby effectively launching official technical preparations for their opening and subsequent expert-level discussions among the 27 member states.
According to three European diplomats and an EU official who are well acquainted with the process, this means the start of a detailed analysis of each cluster and joint work on evaluating the findings within the framework of future discussions among the member states.
On Wednesday morning, COELA began reviewing the screening results for clusters 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 for Ukraine and Moldova, which signals the start of official technical preparation and corresponding diplomatic discussions.
The next step will be to evaluate the findings and formally approve them at the meeting of the EU’s Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER), after which a possible move to discussions could take place as early as the following week.
Additionally, COELA and COREPER plan to further consider and approve the EU’s Common Position on each cluster, which includes a list of reforms that must be implemented to open the clusters.
According to unofficial data from EU member states, the opening date of the five clusters in negotiations with Ukraine has already been agreed at the state level – July 14.
During a meeting with G7 leaders in France, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated that currently “no one sees” bottlenecks in the process of opening all clusters in talks with the EU.
As is known, on June 15 in Luxembourg, at the second EU–Ukraine Intergovernmental Conference, it was officially announced that negotiations with Kyiv would begin on the first negotiating cluster, marking the official start of talks on Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
“no one sees” bottlenecks in the process of opening all clusters in the talks with the EU.
– Volodymyr Zelensky
In summary, the EU enlargement process continues to gain momentum: the preliminary alignment on each cluster will clearly outline the reform package needed to open the negotiating clusters and move Ukraine and Moldova toward full EU membership.