The EU may start negotiations on Ukraine's accession in March 2024
Kyiv has now fulfilled four of the seven conditions necessary to start membership talks
The European Union is going to officially start membership negotiations with Ukraine in March 2024.
Source. This was reported by Radio Liberty correspondent Rickard Jozwiak.
According to him, this issue was discussed on November 6 at a meeting of the heads of the offices of European Commissioners representing all 27 EU member states. The meeting was dedicated to the enlargement of the bloc.
"The heads of the offices of 27 European Commissioners met to discuss EU enlargement. On November 7, the negotiations will continue, but the main preconditions are clear: Ukraine and Moldova will open negotiations on EU accession (most likely in March 2024), and Georgia will be granted candidate status with conditions for moving to the next stage," Joswiak wrote.
Ukraine applied for EU membership almost immediately after the Russian invasion on February 28, 2022. In June, the European Council granted it candidate status.
At the moment, Kyiv has fulfilled four of the seven conditions necessary to start membership negotiations, namely reforming the High Council of Justice, the High Qualifications Commission of Judges and the Constitutional Court, as well as adopting a law on media and bringing its anti-money laundering legislation in line with FATF standards.
At the same time, the EC believes that the fight against corruption has not been sufficiently strengthened. As part of this step, Kyiv was expected to appoint a new head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and a director of the NABU.
Another problem remains the excessive influence of oligarchs. To address it, Ukraine needs to adopt a law on lobbying in line with European standards and strengthen the asset declaration system.
Kyiv should also continue reforming legislation on national minorities in line with the recommendations of the Venice Commission. The EC emphasizes the need to amend the laws on the state language, media, and education.
The day before, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen publicly recognized Ukraine's progress on the path to EU membership.
"We are impressed by the reforms you are implementing in the midst of war," she said during a press conference with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to her, the three remaining points have been completed "by more than 90%" and Ukraine may well achieve its ambitious goal of starting the accession negotiation process this year.
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