What conditions and timing of Ukraine’s accession to the EU are being considered: details of negotiations in Brussels

Brussels is confident that Ukraine will be able to complete all the necessary reforms / Collage 24 Channel

The European Commission recommended that EU states begin accession negotiations with Ukraine. However, Kyiv was able to fully fulfill only 4 of the 7 criteria that accompanied the granting of our state the status of a candidate for accession to the European Union.

At the same time, Ukraine has made great progress in 3 recommendations. Channel 24 correspondent Sofia Nazarenko in Brussels spoke in more detail about the conditions and timing of Ukraine’s accession to the EU, which were discussed today.

Conditions for joining the EU

As the correspondent noted, Brussels advised Ukraine to strengthen the fight against corruption, reduce the excessive influence of oligarchs on legislators and implement all reforms in legislation on national minorities.

The next step is the adoption of a political decision by the European Council to begin negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU. The unanimous decision must be approved by the 27 member countries of the European Union.

In case of a positive decision, expected by Ukraine, the negotiation process will begin immediately after the EU summit in December this year, Nazarenko emphasized.

According to our sources in Brussels, they are confident that Ukraine will be able to complete all the necessary reforms by March 2024. After this, the European Commission will present another assessment and may recommend that the European Council agree on a negotiating framework for Ukraine.

Who will try to block entry

Before this, Kyiv and Brussels will jointly develop a new road map for European integration. This means that Ukraine will implement new reforms on its way to joining the EU.

Note that the Hungarian government has already stated that it is blocking accession negotiations for Ukraine. In particular, due to incomplete implementation of recommendations on national minorities.

Sofia Nazarenko on the details of the negotiations in Brussels: watch the video

However, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmitry Kuleba emphasized that Ukraine will still reach a positive decision of the European Council in December this year.

The “screening” process and the likely date of Ukraine’s accession to the EU

The next step that we expect from the European Commission will be the so-called “screening”. Then the European Commission will compare how close Ukrainian legislation is to EU legislation,” explained Sofia Nazarenko.

According to officials in Brussels, the “screening” process usually takes more than 2 years. However, the European Commission wants to speed up the process and take half a year to complete the procedure for Ukraine.

Brussels cannot predict the final date for Ukraine's admission to the EU. After all, the speed of decision-making depends on the efforts of our state in reforms.

Despite this, the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, admits that Ukraine may join the European Union. in 2030 , if all necessary conditions are met.

Ukraine's accession to the EU: what is known

• Ursula von der Leyen today, November 8, reported that Ukraine has implemented more than 90% of the recommendations put forward by the EC along with granting Ukraine candidate status. In particular, she praised Ukraine for continuing to implement reforms despite a full-scale war.
• The European Commission considers four of the seven criteria that accompanied the granting of Ukraine candidate status to join the European Union to be fully met. At the same time, the other three criteria are accompanied by recommendations from the European Commission for further implementation.
• President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky has already responded to the decision of the European Commission, thanking everyone who helped. The Ukrainian leader stressed that the history of Ukraine and Europe has taken the “right step.”