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🇮🇹 Italy /Elections & Politics

EU Opens New Cluster in Accession Talks with Ukraine; Kyiv Eyes Final Phase

From ANSA · () Italian

Translated from Italian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • The EU has opened Cluster 6, concerning external relations, in accession negotiations with Ukraine.
  • This marks a significant milestone, with Ukraine aiming to complete technical accession work by 2027.
  • Officials expressed confidence in Ukraine's progress despite the ongoing war, highlighting its alignment with EU legislation.

The European Union has opened Cluster 6, focusing on external relations, in its accession negotiations with Ukraine. This significant step was formalized during the third EU-Ukraine Accession Conference.

With the opening of Cluster 6, the Council has demonstrated the EU's commitment to enlargement.

— Thomas ByrneIrish Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne, speaking on behalf of the EU presidency, on the opening of Cluster 6 in EU-Ukraine accession talks.

Irish Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne, speaking on behalf of the EU presidency, called the decision an "important milestone." He noted it is the second cluster opened with Ukraine, following Cluster 1 on fundamentals. Byrne praised Ukraine's "continuous momentum" in its accession bid, especially given the "lethal" war with Russia, and acknowledged Kyiv's "significant progress" in aligning its legislation with the EU acquis.

This is an important milestone in Kiev's accession path.

— Thomas ByrneIrish Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne, describing the opening of Cluster 6.

"The results achieved by Ukraine in the accession process under the most difficult circumstances are even more impressive," Byrne stated. He emphasized that the conference demonstrated the commitment of both the EU and Ukraine to the European path and values. He encouraged Kyiv to continue reforms, particularly in fundamental areas, and assured that work would proceed to advance Ukraine's candidacy.

Ukraine belongs to the European family and we look forward to the day when we can welcome it into the European Union.

— Thomas ByrneIrish Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne, concluding his remarks on Ukraine's accession.

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Taras Kachka, expressed optimism about completing the technical accession work by 2027. He stated that Ukraine is not starting from scratch, having already achieved a high level of EU acquis adoption through its Association Agreement. Kachka views the opening of negotiation clusters as entering the "final phase of negotiations," where Ukraine can prove it has met all requirements. He added that all documents for further clusters are ready, with decisions now resting on the unity of the 27 member states.

Our plan does not change: by the end of 2027 we want to adopt and begin implementing all the necessary legislation to join the EU.

— Taras KachkaUkrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka, on the timeline for Ukraine's EU accession.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ANSA in Italian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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