Today, November 8, the European Commission will provide an opinion on Ukraine’s fulfillment of the criteria necessary to begin negotiations on accession to the EU.
Western media have repeatedly noted that a positive result is expected for Kyiv, but with certain conditions.
Thus, Reuters indicated that on November 8, the European Commission will recommend starting negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on membership, but only when the countries fulfill all the necessary conditions. This means that official negotiations with Kiev and Chisinau could begin as early as 2024.
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Radio Liberty, whose journalists received the report on Ukraine, an internal document of the European Commission, reported that Ukraine had fully complied with four of the seven conditions.
Thus, the following are considered fully completed:
- Implementation of legislation regarding the selection of judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, taking into account the recommendations of the Venice Commission.
- Creation of the High Qualifications Commission of Judges (HQJC) and completion of verification of the integrity of candidates for members of the High Council of Justice (HCJ).
- Bringing anti-money laundering legislation into line with FATF standards. Approval of a strategic plan for reforming the law enforcement sector.
- Bringing Ukrainian legislation into line with the European Union Directive on audiovisual media services.
In addition, it is reported that to begin negotiations on accession to the EU, Ukraine must:
- approve the law proposed by the government to increase the staffing level of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine;
- exclude from the law on the prevention of corruption provisions that limit the powers of the NACP to continuing to verify assets that have already undergone the verification process, and limit the powers of this body to verify property acquired by declarants before entering public service;
- adopt a law on lobbying, in accordance with European standards, as part of de-oligarchization;
- adopt a law that will take into account the remaining recommendations of the Venice Commission of June and October 2023 related to the law on national minorities, and will also take into account the recommendations of the Venice Commission related to laws on the state language, media and education.
The draft report also specifically noted that Ukraine must continue to fight corruption through further investigations and judicial verdicts.
The next report by the European Commission, according to the current draft, will be prepared by March 2024.
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What will happen if the European Commission makes a positive decision?
If the EU recognizes Ukraine's progress in meeting the criteria, then the next step will be to begin the procedure for formal negotiations on membership in the European Union.
At the same time, negotiations begin only after a unanimous decision of all 27 EU member states that the candidate country has completed all intermediate tasks and is ready to begin negotiations.
Thus, Budapest is threatening to block the start of negotiations with Kiev on accession to the EU at the summit in December until the law on language in education is repealed. Advisor to Viktor Orban called the law “unbearable” for the life of Hungarians in Ukraine.
In turn, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmitry Kuleba called for “solving problems as they arise.” According to him, Ukraine is moving towards a decision by the European Council in December this year to open negotiations.
