EU Accession Talks with Ukraine Officially Begin, But Kyiv Should Not Celebrate Too Soon

The European Union has formally commenced accession negotiations with Ukraine, marking a significant milestone in the country's aspirations for membership. In a ceremony held in Luxembourg, the first five so-called negotiating chapters were opened, representing the initial steps in a process that could eventually lead to Ukraine joining the bloc.

This development was facilitated by a shift in Hungary's stance. The new Hungarian government, led by Peter Magyar, reached an agreement with Kyiv in early June concerning the rights of the estimated 100,000 ethnic Hungarians residing in Ukraine, particularly in areas of education, administration, and culture. This agreement allowed Budapest to lift its previous veto, which had blocked the opening of negotiation chapters since December 2023, despite initial agreement to start talks.

The accession process involves 35 chapters, grouped into six clusters. Opening and closing each cluster requires unanimous consent from all 27 EU member states. Hungary's initial resistance stemmed from concerns over the treatment of its minority population within Ukraine. The new agreement appears to have addressed these concerns sufficiently for Budapest to withdraw its objection.

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The Ukraine has delivered, now we also deliver.

For Ukraine, this marks the end of a two-year period of uncertainty. The negotiations will now delve into critical areas such as fundamental rights, the functionality of democratic institutions, and administrative efficiency. However, the term 'negotiations' is considered somewhat euphemistic, as Brussels largely dictates the reform agenda that Kyiv must implement.

Ukraine, along with Moldova, hopes to have all six clusters opened by July. While this timeline is ambitious given the pace of past accession processes, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos deems it possible. She stated that Ukraine has delivered on its preparations, and now the EU is delivering on its commitments.

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Hungarian homecoming to Europe