Monday, March 24
The EC will open European integration negotiation clusters with Ukraine this year, despite Hungary’s obstruction.
Thursday, March 20, 2025
The European Commission plans to begin the first cluster of negotiations regarding Ukraine’s EU accession this year but acknowledges that it will require the unanimity of all member states.
EC representative Guillaume Mercier stated: “Enlargement will remain a priority for the EC. Ukraine is confidently moving towards EU accession.”
The screening of Ukrainian legislation for compliance with European law will continue until the fall of this year.
“Provided that all necessary conditions are met, the commission looks forward to opening the first cluster as soon as possible in 2025,” Mercier added.
Meanwhile, Polish Minister for EU Affairs Adam Szlapka, whose country holds the EU presidency for the first half of the year, mentioned that both the EC and Poland are prepared to initiate the first negotiation clusters with Ukraine, but Hungary is still hindering these efforts.
High-ranking diplomats from Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia urged Brussels to accelerate the EU accession process for Ukraine, given Kyiv’s significant progress in reform.
