The European Commission has announced that Ukraine and Moldova have met all the criteria to formally start negotiations on EU membership.

EU leaders agreed to open talks with the two countries, provided they met certain conditions, such as fighting corruption.

Ukraine applied for EU membership in February 2022, after Russia escalated the long-running conflict in eastern Ukraine by launching a full-scale invasion of the country.

Moldova asked to join a month later. Both countries were granted candidate status in June 2022.

Despite the impact of the war, which has devastated the economy and forced millions to abandon their homes in frontline cities, towns and villages, the Ukrainian government has been implementing sweeping reforms recommended by the EU.

The changes have ranged from anti-corruption measures to regulations for public administration and food safety.

“We confirm that on the Commission side we consider that all the steps have been met by the two countries,” a Commission spokesperson said.

“The decision is now in the hands of the member states – it is for them to adopt the negotiating framework,” she said.

“Once this step is done it is the prerogative of the EU presidency to convene an intergovernmental conference to formally mark the start of the negotiations,” she added.

The Commission assessment will now be discussed by experts in working groups and then by ambassadors of EU governments next week.

A number of EU countries are pushing the 27-nation bloc to formally launch the talks on June 25, 2024.

However, to start negotiations, the EU’s member states need to unanimously agree by adopting the so-called negotiating framework.

Opposition from Hungary, the EU’s most Russia-friendly country, threatens to derail the move. The issue of minority rights has been a key sticking point for Budapest, which has long complained about alleged mistreatment of the Hungarian community in Ukraine.

Belgium, which holds the rotating EU presidency until the end of June, is making arrangements for intergovernmental conferences with Ukraine and Moldova to be held on June 25, 2024, in Luxembourg if there is unanimous backing.

However, such backing is not guaranteed because Hungary, which maintains warm ties with Russia and has criticised Ukraine’s membership bid, has doubts about the Commission’s assessment that Ukraine is ready and wants to see some more items added to the negotiating frameworks, diplomats said.

Belgium and the Commission are keen to get agreement in June, before Hungary takes over the rotating presidency from July 1 for six months, because EU diplomats expect Budapest will put the whole process on ice until 2025.

Ukraine Expects Quick Decision From Partners

Ukrainian Prime Minister, Denys Shmyhal stated that Ukraine expects its European partners to begin negotiations on membership in the European Union.

“The European Commission supports the start of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU. We are grateful for the positive assessment of our European integration progress,” Shmyhal wrote on the Telegram channel.

According to the Prime Minister, the announced conclusion of the European Commission states that Ukraine continues systematic efforts to join the EU and has completed all four additional reform steps.

“Now we expect our European partners to take the next step — to start negotiations on European Union membership already this month,” Shmyhal stated.

The Ukrainian people fight every day for the right to be in the circle of the European family in the war against the Russian aggressor,” he concluded.