EU ambassadors from all 27 member states have agreed to launch the first phase of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, paving the way for formal talks on Monday focused on core governance reforms despite ongoing war and political hurdles.

Ambassadors from the European Union’s 27 member states have agreed to move forward with membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, setting the stage for the first phase of talks to begin on Monday.

The decision comes as Ukraine continues to resist Russia’s invasion, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy making EU membership a central pillar of his country’s long-term political and security strategy.

EU leaders had agreed in principle in December 2023 to open accession talks with both Ukraine and Moldova. However, the process stalled amid opposition from the previous Hungarian government, which had blocked the start of formal negotiations over concerns related to Kyiv’s membership bid.

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That impasse has now eased after a new government in Budapest reached an agreement with Ukraine on protections for the Hungarian minority, clearing the way for the first stage of talks to proceed.

At a meeting in Brussels on Friday, EU ambassadors approved the opening of the first “cluster” of accession negotiations for both countries. These clusters group together policy areas that candidates must reform in order to align their laws and institutions with EU standards.

In the accession process, candidate countries negotiate policy ”chapters” which are grouped into six thematic clusters, covering areas including fundamental rights, internal market and external relations.

”Today, the European Union took a major step forward,” European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a joint statement.

”At the first Intergovernmental Conference on Monday, we will open the cluster on fundamentals; the backbone of the accession process,” they said.

EU accession negotiations are often lengthy and involve years of work on implementing reforms and meeting European standards.

Costa and von der Leyen said Friday’s decision is ”a recognition of the determination, courage and hard work shown by both countries in advancing reforms, even in the face of immense challenges. And a signal that the EU’s offer of peace, stability and opportunity is unmatchable”.

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With inputs from agencies

First Published:
June 13, 2026, 00:43 IST

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