POLITICO: Moldova, Ukraine might start official EU accession talks in June

Moldova and Ukraine are close to officially launching negotiations on joining the European Union, after Hungary has reportedly indicated it was ready to drop its opposition to Ukraine’s candidacy, POLITICO reports, as cited by MOLDPRES.

According to the outlet, which cites four European diplomats, the opening of the first negotiation “cluster” – a formal stage in the EU accession process – is expected to be discussed at an intergovernmental conference scheduled for June 15  in Luxembourg.

Moldova and Ukraine submitted their applications to join the European Union simultaneously, which means that the advancement of Chișinău’s file depends on Ukraine’s progress in the negotiation process.

According to the diplomats quoted by POLITICO, the new leadership in Budapest has signaled openness to lifting its veto on Ukraine after a meeting held on June 1  between Ukrainian and Hungarian experts on the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine.

However, a Hungarian official, cited on condition of anonymity, said that no final decision had yet been taken on opening negotiation clusters for Ukraine. “Negotiations are ongoing. No agreement has been reached,” the official said.

According to the same source, the Ukrainian side has reportedly provided assurances that it would address most of the concerns previously raised by Budapest in an 11‑point plan drawn up under former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

The talks on Ukraine’s EU accession have intensified after the new Hungarian Prime Minister, Péter Magyar, visited Brussels for discussions with EU officials on unblocking European funds meant for Hungary.

According to European diplomats, the ambassadors of EU member states are expected to finalize by the end of this week their position on opening the first negotiation cluster for Moldova and Ukraine, after Kyiv presents its domestic reform plans.

The opening of negotiation clusters requires the unanimous approval of all 27 EU member states and any state can block the process at any stage of the negotiations.