The EU will support accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, and Georgia will receive a “candidate” – media

Ukraine and Moldova are likely to advance to the next round on their way to the EU / Collage 24 Channel

The European Union will soon publish a report on Ukraine's success in fulfilling the 7 requirements necessary to begin negotiations on its accession to the EU. The media suggest that our country will receive the green light.

After the EU reports on Ukraine's progress, which is due as early as November 8, it must decide at a summit in December whether to enter into accession negotiations with it.

When can negotiations on Ukraine's accession begin?

According to media reports, on November 6, the heads of cabinet of 27 European Commissioners met to discuss issues of EU enlargement. The discussion will continue on November 7.

The main topic of conversation is the beginning of negotiations on the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the EU. March 2024 is considered as a likely start date for these negotiations. The EU also plans to grant candidate status to Georgia.

Reuters, citing EU officials, also confirmed that on November 8 the European Commission will recommend that the bloc begin membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, subject to their fulfillment of the relevant conditions.

Officials said that the actual provision of this recommendation effectively means that formal accession negotiations with Kiev and Chisinau could begin next year.

No reason to refuse

Ukraine is also waiting for an affirmative decision from the European Commission. Thus, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olga Stefanishyna expressed confidence that on November 8 the EU will provide a positive report, and in December at the summit it will decide to start negotiations.

I would say that the assessment will be definitely positive, because we were in constant contact with the European Commission, discussed steps and agreed on the steps that we managed to implement,” Stefanishina emphasized.

The Deputy Prime Minister clarified that within the framework of the seven recommendations of the European Commission, which were provided to Kyiv as necessary conditions for accession, “everything that was agreed upon was implemented and done.”

What demands did Ukraine face?

After our state received the status of a candidate for accession to the EU in the summer of 2022, it was given 7 requirements:

• reform the Constitutional Court;
• continue judicial reform;
• combat money laundering;
• implement the anti-oligarchic law;
• fight corruption and appoint a head of SAPO;
• harmonize audiovisual legislation with European legislation;
• change the legislation on national minorities.

In particular, President Zelensky signed the bill on national communities on November 3.