EU to resume membership talks with Ukraine, Moldova

The European Union announced on Friday that member states had agreed to open the first cluster of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova in a move marking a major step forward in the bloc's enlargement process. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa said in a joint statement on behalf of the EU that all member states had agreed to open the first accession negotiations cluster with Ukraine and Moldova, noting that the Intergovernmental Conference scheduled for Monday would open the cluster on fundamentals, which forms the backbone of the accession process. "At the first Intergovernmental Conference on Monday, we will open the cluster on fundamentals; the backbone of the accession process," the statement said. It added that the cluster covers the core values and principles on which the EU is built, including the rule of law and strong democratic institutions, stressing that the decision recognizes "the determination, courage and hard work shown by both countries in advancing reforms, even in the face of immense challenges." The move, according to Von der Leyen and Costa was also "a signal that the EU's offer of peace, stability and opportunity is unmatchable," adding that enlargement is "a strategic choice" that strengthens peace, security and prosperity across Europe. It further stressed that "in a world marked by growing uncertainty, a larger European Union is in our common interest," noting that enlargement remains "one of the EU's greatest success stories and our best investment in our shared future." For her part, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos welcomed the decision, saying that Ukraine and Moldova would take their biggest step since the launch of EU accession negotiations in 2023. In a post on X, Kos said the decision by member states to approve the opening of the fundamentals cluster gives new impetus to the ongoing negotiations, congratulating both countries for their commitment and dedication to the European path. The announcement came after Hungary's new government agreed to drop its longstanding objection to moving forward with Ukraine's accession track to the European Union.