The decision of the European Council to open negotiations with Ukraine on accession to the European Union is an important step towards full Ukrainian membership in the bloc.
But in the future, Ukraine faces a long road, during which Ukrainian state institutions will need to agree on a number of standards with the European Union in order to gain EU membership.
ICTV facts talk about what the start of negotiations with the EU means for Ukraine and what further steps are expected from official Kyiv.
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Start of negotiations with the EU. What's next?
Negotiation frame
After the start of negotiations with the European Union, official Kyiv and Brussels will have to form a negotiating framework, which will determine the procedure for introductory negotiations with Ukraine. It is expected that work on the frame will begin immediately, and it will be approved in March next year.
Vice Prime Minister for Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olga Stefanishina stated that Ukraine will begin negotiations on the next steps to join the EU on December 18.
— I want to assure you that literally 15 minutes after the decision was made, I received a call from the European Commission. Already on Monday, December 18, we will be negotiating the next steps, — she said on the air of the national telethon United News.
The negotiating framework is expected to be approved in March 2024, when the European Commission will review the state of reforms in Ukraine. We are talking primarily about judicial reform and the anti-corruption industry. Today, another recommendation of the European Commission remains unfulfilled, which concerns the regulation of lobbying activities.
— A report will be published in March and based on that we will make a decision in March, — President of the European Council Charles Michel.
told reporters
Acquis communautaire
The next step for Ukraine will be to harmonize its legislation with EU law over the course of years. The system of legal documents of the European Union called acquis communautaire, which has 35 chapters, is responsible for this.
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The European Commission has already begun monitoring the progress of Ukrainian legislation towards harmonization with EU legislation on acquis chapters.
The issues addressed in the 35 sections of the acquis communautaire relate to procurement, corporate law, monetary policy, judicial proceedings and law enforcement, anti-corruption, culture and the like.
At the same time, for each country with which accession negotiations are ongoing, a separate negotiation framework is developed each time. Observers admit that certain points on the path to membership may be simplified for Ukraine.
When Ukraine will become a member of the EU?
Negotiating processes for accession to the EU are unique for each of the candidate countries. How quickly negotiations between Brussels and Kiev will continue will depend on the pace of adoption of relevant legislation by the Verkhovna Rada, as well as the implementation of all necessary reforms.
At the same time, progress on each of the points must be approved by all EU countries. In addition, in order for the negotiation process with Ukraine to be finally closed, the European Parliament must also have its say.
Also, the decision on membership will depend on ratifications in the parliaments of all 27 EU countries.
If we talk about specific dates, then in October of this year, the President of the European Council Charles Michel stated that Ukraine could join the European Union in 2030, if all necessary conditions are met.
— Yes, Ukraine could become a member of the EU in 2030 if both sides do their homework, — said Michelle.
At the same time, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that 2030 is only “ ;political horizon“.
— It's good to have a goal, it's good to have a horizon. This is the political horizon. Fixed date target — in order to mobilize political energy to start moving. This does not mean that this will be an exact date. If we don't have a horizon, people will start thinking: “Okay, we have time”. But we don't have time, — said Borrell.
Borrell also added that Ukraine “pushed” the queue of countries that are expected to join the EU. And, as the head of European diplomacy assured, this “queue will move, and we will move faster”.
