EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said that the European Union could open all negotiation clusters with Ukraine by the autumn of this year, provided the current pace of accession talks is maintained.
Speaking ahead of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council with defense ministers, Kos noted that Ukraine had completed the necessary preparatory work and was ready to open Cluster 1, “Fundamentals.” She stressed that the EU Council now had all the elements needed to make that decision. According to her, two additional legislative screenings — related to Clusters 2 and 6 for both Ukraine and Moldova — had been submitted to the Council the previous week. If progress continues at the current rate, Kos said, all screenings could be completed by autumn. She emphasized that this should be seen as a strong message to Ukraine: to remain resilient, to continue the fight against corruption, and to uphold the rule of law.
When asked about Hungary’s objections to opening Cluster 1, Kos said that doing so could actually help address Hungary’s concerns regarding the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine. She stated that minority rights were of fundamental importance to the EU and an essential element of the negotiations. In her opinion, launching this cluster would give Hungary the opportunity to receive answers to its concerns.
Kos also added that this process was not only about Ukraine but also about European security. She suggested that this was a moment the EU should seize — to push forward reforms in Ukraine and to signal that its progress is being recognized and that the EU integration process should continue.
She noted that the ministerial-level discussion being held today would focus on what Europe could do to help achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine — and do so swiftly. According to her, Ukraine’s integration into the EU would be a key element of any future security guarantees once peace talks begin. She stressed that this was not just a matter of Ukraine’s security, but also of the long-term security of Europe and the EU as a whole.
EU foreign and defense ministers are meeting in Brussels today, with both sessions expected to focus on continued EU assistance to Ukraine and support for its efforts to achieve a just and sustainable peace.
Photo: Katja Kodba/STA
Source: EU could open all negotiation clusters with Ukraine by autumn – Commissioner Kos
