EU Envoys Agree To Open First Accession Talks Cluster For Ukraine And Moldova Monday

Ambassadors from the European Union’s 27 member states agreed in Brussels on Friday to open the first accession negotiations cluster with Ukraine and Moldova, with the first phase set to begin on Monday.

“The European Union has announced that the accession process for Ukraine and Moldova will launch next week”

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, "All Member States agreed to open the first accession negotiations cluster with Ukraine and Moldova," adding that the process will begin on June 15 with the cluster on EU "fundamentals."

Al Jazeera

European Council President António Costa and von der Leyen framed the move as a foundation for the talks, describing the fundamentals cluster as "the backbone of the accession process" and covering areas from the rule of law to strong democratic institutions.

The decision follows Ukraine and Hungary reaching an agreement earlier this month on the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine, which had been Budapest’s main reason for blocking the launch of accession talks.

The first cluster is grouped around core governance reforms, and the EU accession process is divided into 33 negotiating chapters grouped into thematic clusters, with progress in fundamentals shaping the pace of negotiations in other fields.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the decision as a "strong step for the sake of Europe," saying Kyiv was defending "all of Europe" as it continues to fight off Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Zelenskyy added, "The opening of the first cluster is significant political and moral support for our state and our people," and said it was important that "the EU is also keeping its word."

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Moldovan President Maia Sandu welcomed the move, saying Chișinău was "ready to open all" accession clusters and that "We’ve done the work, and we’ll keep delivering reforms," according to TVP World.

The EU decision was also described as a recognition of reforms advanced "even in the face of immense challenges," with von der Leyen and Costa saying the enlargement step strengthens "peace, security and prosperity across our continent."

While the first cluster is set to open, the sources describe the broader process as lengthy, with EU accession negotiations divided into clusters and chapters that could take years even after the initial phase begins.

The opening of the first cluster is presented as the start of structured membership talks, but the sources emphasize that it does not mean the rest of the clusters will automatically follow immediately.

“EU Agrees to Start Accession Talks with Ukraine and Moldova European Council President Antonio Costa announced that EU member states have unanimously agreed to initiate the first 'accession negotiations cluster' with Ukraine and Moldova”

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Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that diplomatic sources in Brussels said the remaining clusters were unlikely to be opened until later in 2026, even after the Hungarian minority rights deal cleared the way for the first phase.

The Kyiv Independent described the June 15 Intergovernmental Conference as the point when the first of six enlargement clusters is expected to be launched in Luxembourg, while also noting that diplomats expected the sixth cluster on "external relations" to open without problems.

Hungary’s position remains conditional in the sources, with the Kyiv Independent saying Hungary’s Prime Minister Peter Magyar said he would not greenlight the launch of the first accession cluster unless Kyiv strengthens the rights of its 70,000-80,000-strong Hungarian minority in western Zakarpattia Oblast.

Al Jazeera reported that Hungary’s new government agreed to drop Orban’s veto, and that Budapest would hold a referendum on Ukraine’s membership should Ukraine "succeed in closing all 33 accession chapters within the next 10 to 15 years."