Brussels (Brussels Morning) – Ukrainian President Zelenskyy signs three security agreements in Brussels and begins EU accession negotiations, aiming for comprehensive support from all 27 EU Member States despite the expected years-long process.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported his arrival in Brussels to sign three security agreements at the European Council meeting – including one with the European Union. The negotiations for the accession of Ukraine to the European Union were officially projected on Tuesday, starting a long process. The accession negotiations are anticipated to take several years.
“Today, I am in Brussels to attend a meeting of the European Council and to thank all European leaders for their unity and for affirming the irreversibility of our European course,” said Zelenskyy on social media.
He will assemble with the leaders of the EU and the Member States and hold bilateral talks. “We will sign three security agreements, including one with the EU as a whole. For the first time, this agreement will enshrine the commitment of all 27 Member States to provide Ukraine with extensive support, regardless of any internal institutional changes.”
At the beginning of the talks on Tuesday, the outgoing President of the European Council Charles Michel applauded the “immense progress” made by Ukraine, particularly given the war taking place on its soil. “Each step we take brings us closer to our historic goal of peace and prosperity in our common European home,” Zelenskyy stated.
What Progress Has Ukraine Made Towards EU Membership?
The talks for the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the European Union have officially been launched. Accession negotiations – which are anticipated to take several years – are enduring place within the framework of intergovernmental conferences (IGC). A first conference with Ukraine must take place at 15:30, followed by a second one with Moldova.
How Will EU Support Shape Ukraine’s Future in Europe?
“We stand on the threshold of an essential and transformative moment for these two nations and our Union, and we celebrate the values and principles that bind us,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed in a statement a few hours after these key moments.
Once the IGCs are officially unlocked, negotiators will review the legislation of both nations to check compatibility with European law. This “screening” process usually lasts one to two years but could go quickly in this specific case. The IGCs are being held exactly two years after Ukraine received the status of candidate country for membership – a highly symbolic action that came three months after Russia overran the country.
At the end of 2023, the EU’s 27 leaders of state and government, meeting at the European Council, delivered the green light to the opening of negotiations with Ukraine as well as Moldova, once the latest guidance from the European Commission had been implemented. On 7 June, the Commission stated that all the conditions were now met.
