EU ambassadors have agreed on the negotiation framework for Ukraine and Moldova’s accession.

On June 14, permanent representatives from the EU member states approved in principle the negotiating framework for the accession of Ukraine and Moldova, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU announced. This means that on June 25 an intergovernmental conference will be held, officially beginning the negotiations on the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the EU. It should be noted that the intergovernmental conference was expected to take place at the end of June, before Belgium’s presidency of the EU Council ends.

Hungary, at the level of permanent representatives, blocked the decision’s adoption, citing “insufficient progress made by Ukraine with national minorities.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, Péter Szijjártó, stated that after lively debates, the EU agreed that the negotiating framework for Ukraine should include all of Hungary’s demands regarding the observance of the rights of national minorities.