EU Membership: Ukraine and Moldova Take Steps Toward Joining The EU |

EU Membership: Ukraine and Moldova Take Steps Toward Joining The EU

The European Union is officially beginning the process of welcoming Ukraine and Moldova as potential new members.

On June 25, the EU's Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN) Council, which includes ministers from all 27 member countries, decided to start accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova.

“I am grateful to everyone on our team who worked hard to make this historic step a reality,”

“Millions of Ukrainians, and indeed generations of our people, are realising their European dream. Ukraine is returning to Europe, where it has belonged for centuries, as a full-fledged member of the European community.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Moldovan President Maia Sandu stated that “becoming an EU member is our path to peace, prosperity, and a better life for all citizens.”

Today, 27 EU member states approved the negotiating framework necessary to begin EU accession negotiations with Ukraine. I am grateful to @EUCouncil and @EU2024BE for their robust political will.

We look forward to next week, June 25th, when Ukraine and the EU are set to hold…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 21, 2024

The talks will begin in Luxembourg with two separate intergovernmental conferences for Ukraine and Moldova. These discussions mark the start of what is expected to be a challenging, years-long journey toward full membership.

Ukraine and Moldova both applied for EU membership in 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The decision to begin talks now comes after the EU confirmed that both countries have met the initial requirements to start negotiations.

The EU's decision to begin negotiations in June was strategic, aimed at starting the process before Hungary assumes the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU on July 1.

The talks will set off a process of screening of how far laws in the countries already comply with EU standards and how much more work lies ahead.

To join the EU, candidate countries must align their laws and standards with those of the union. This alignment covers a wide range of areas, including trade, governance, and human rights.

EU Expansion

In addition to Ukraine and Moldova, the EU also approved accession talks with several Balkan countries in December 2023. These countries include Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia, all of which are on their own paths to potential membership.

This decision marks an exciting and transformative period for both Ukraine and Moldova as they move closer to achieving their aspirations of joining the European Union.

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