EU cluster talks with Moldova and Ukraine set to begin. Marta Kos: Council has all it needs to decide
The Council of the European Union has all the information needed to decide whether to start negotiations on Cluster 1—Fundamental Values with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, said the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos. She emphasized that both countries have made significant progress in this area, and if the current evaluation pace continues, all screening sessions could be completed by autumn.
“Ukraine has completed its preparations and is ready to proceed with Cluster 1, which focuses on fundamental values. The Council now has all the necessary elements to make a decision. Last week, we submitted two more evaluation reports for Cluster 2 and Cluster 6, pertaining to both Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. If we maintain our current pace, we expect to finalize all evaluations by autumn,” said Marta Kos today ahead of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in the Defence configuration.
The Commissioner believes that opening negotiations on Cluster 1—related to fundamental values—would allow Hungary to address its concerns regarding the Hungarian minority in Ukraine. Additionally, this step is crucial for European security.
“We should seize this opportune moment to continue with reforms in Ukraine, sending a clear message that its efforts are valued and that the full accession process must move forward,” the Commissioner said.
At the end of April this year, Marta Kos announced that the European Union was considering advancing the accession process with the Republic of Moldova separately from Ukraine. However, shortly thereafter, she stated that Brussels would open accession negotiations with both countries “simultaneously and as soon as possible,” despite Budapest's objections concerning Ukraine’s accession to the bloc.
