After the end of the blockade of Hungary: EU begins accession negotiations with Ukraine

The first phase of the negotiations will involve discussions about Topics such as the justice system, the protection of fundamental values ​​and security started. Candidate countries must, among other things, prove that their legal systems, border protection and police meet EU standards.

After a two-year stalemate due to a blockade in Hungary, the step of opening the first phase of negotiations is seen as an important signal to Ukraine that its reform efforts are worthwhile. The country attacked by Russia will now have to show in the course of negotiations that will probably last years that it is ready to join the EU. This also requires numerous other reforms, for example in the area of ​​combating corruption.

New head of government in Hungary brought about a change

Later in the evening they should also Accession negotiations with Moldova be started. Ukraine’s neighboring country also had to wait two years for talks to begin because of the Hungarian blockade.

The EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova actually began formally in June 2024. However, the opening of the first phase of negotiations with Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia, was blocked by Hungary with a veto. Only after the long-standing Russian-friendly head of government Viktor Orbán was voted out in April did the process move again.

The new Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar At the beginning of June, reported an agreement with Ukraine on an agreement to strengthen the minority rights of ethnic Hungarians in its eastern neighbor. Magyar had made such an agreement a condition for agreeing to EU accession talks with Ukraine.

In addition to Ukraine and Moldova, the Western Balkan countries Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Kosovo are particularly aspiring to join the EU. According to the EU Commission’s most recent analysis, Montenegro is furthest along in the EU admission process – the negotiators have now met in Luxembourg for the 27th round of negotiations.

The country, which has only around 620,000 inhabitants, was recently confirmed as being able to complete accession negotiations by the end of 2026 if it maintains the pace of reforms. Von der Leyen recently said at a Western Balkans summit that it was “within reach” for Montenegro to become the 28th EU member state by 2028.

Wadephul: “Historical point in time”

Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said in Luxembourg that there was a long road ahead of Ukraine and that the goal would not be reached tomorrow. Nevertheless, it is about more than symbolism, and the start of negotiations is a “historic point in time for Europe and also for Ukraine”. “If you don’t start, you won’t get any results,” he said.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the opening of negotiations on the first thematic block on the sidelines of the G7 summit as a “tremendous step forward”. Ukraine has made remarkable progress in reforms, she said. (dpa)