EU launches accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova after end of Hungarian veto

The accession negotiation process is divided thematically into six chapters with a total of 33 so-called negotiating chapters. In addition, there are two chapters that are negotiated outside the clusters. In the first negotiating chapter, officially called the first cluster, the countries must demonstrate, among other things, that their judiciary and public administration meet EU standards. The first group of negotiation topics, referred to by the EU as a "cluster," will relate to the values and fundamental principles that both countries must uphold in order to one day join the EU.

Reactions from Kyiv and Chișinău were cautiously positive. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked his country's partners in the EU on social media, among others. Ukraine is doing what is necessary as announced, and it is also important that the EU keeps its word, he wrote. The opening of the first cluster is an important political and moral support for the state and its people. Moldovan President Maia Sandu also welcomed the decision. Moldova is ready to open all negotiating chapters, she wrote on X and announced further reforms.

Reactions from Kyiv and Brussels

EU Commission President von der Leyen and EU Council President Costa stated that Ukraine and Moldova had shown determination, courage and hard work in implementing reforms despite enormous challenges. They stressed that a larger EU is in "our common" interest in a world marked by growing uncertainty. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) acknowledges shortcomings. The EU must now show that it is "capable of enlargement and willing to enlarge."

Negotiations typically drag on for years, and there is no guarantee they can be successfully concluded. EU accession negotiations with Turkey, for example, were launched back in 2005 — but today they are completely on ice after the country's continued backsliding in the areas of democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights. Once negotiations are concluded, accession must be approved unanimously by all 27 member states and ratified by each individual state.

Reform debate and the Western Balkans

In parallel, the EU is discussing reforms of its own procedure. Linn Selle from the Europe Center of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) explained that only a united and reformed EU can secure stability in the long term and remain capable of acting with more members. Discussions are underway, for example, on whether the principle of unanimity for votes needs to be reformed. David McAllister, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the European Parliament, supports gradual integration: this could promote stability and bring the benefits of the EU closer to people even before accession. The EU, on the other hand, wants to rely on intermediate solutions such as "associated membership."

The Western Balkans has also been waiting for an accession perspective for years. The EU has not been enlarged in over a decade. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama summed up the accession process provocatively at last week's Western Balkans summit in Montenegro: When will Albania join the EU? There are three things you cannot predict: God, sex, and the EU. The concern: the wait could destabilize the Western Balkans region and strengthen the influence of Russia and China.

ARD plans to discuss the start of negotiations on Monday evening in the programme "Mitreden! Deutschland diskutiert" from 20:15 to 22:00. Host Christoph Kober will welcome guests including Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, David McAllister, Amira Mohamed Ali, chair of the BSW, Linn Selle from the DGAP, and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. Follow ARD Mitreden! via video livestream or on radio on BR24, HR Info, MDR AKTUELL, NDR Info, rbb24 Inforadio and SWR Aktuell. Viewers can call in free of charge starting 60 minutes before the programme begins at (08000) 44 17 77.