EU announces date for membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova

In a written statement issued by Belgium, which holds the presidency of the Council of the EU, it was reported that a decision to begin accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova was reached at a meeting of member states at the ambassadorial level.

The statement indicated that the first intergovernmental conferences will be held on June 25.

The intergovernmental conference is considered the first official stage of an candidate country's EU membership negotiations. The membership process itself takes years.

It was learned that the conference will take place in Luxembourg during the EU foreign ministers' meeting on June 25.

HUNGARIAN VETO OVERCOME

Ukraine and Moldova had applied for EU membership in the environment that developed following Russia's attack on Ukraine.

Both countries were granted candidate status on June 23, 2022, and the decision to initiate membership negotiations was reached on December 23, 2023.

The European Commission announced last week that both countries had met all the criteria to officially begin negotiations. However, this decision, which requires the unanimous consent of the 27 member states, had been vetoed by Hungary.

The fact that the EU presidency will pass to Hungary on July 1 had caused Belgium and the European Commission to intensify their efforts to start the negotiations as soon as possible.

News Source: AA