The European Union has formally opened the first chapter of membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, marking a significant milestone in their accession process but underscoring the long road that remains before either country can join the bloc.
EU officials described the day as a “Mega Monday” for enlargement policy as ministers meeting in Luxembourg launched negotiations on the first of six thematic groups, known in EU terminology as “clusters”. Montenegro also moved forward in its accession process, beginning preparations for its accession treaty.
The first cluster, focused on fundamental principles, covers issues including judicial reform, anti-corruption measures, democratic governance and administrative capacity.
“Opening a cluster is one thing, but implementing the reforms and requirements stemming from EU legislation is another,” Lithuanian Deputy Foreign Minister Sigitas Mitkus said in Luxembourg. He said the European Commission would closely monitor progress in areas such as corruption prevention, judicial independence, institutional effectiveness and democratic standards before allowing negotiations to advance.
The launch of talks is widely viewed as a major symbolic achievement for Ukraine, which applied for EU membership shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. However, officials and analysts acknowledge that accession remains years away.
