Brussels – June in even-numbered years seems to hold something magical for Ukraine and Moldova. In 2022, the two countries were granted EU candidate status. In 2024, the first Accession Conferences were held. In 2026, after a two-year delay caused by Hungary’s politically motivated veto, the green light has been given for the opening of negotiations on the first group of accession chapters.
At the COREPER (Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU) meeting on 12 June, the 27 EU ambassadors gave a positive assessment of both Kyiv’s and Chișinău’s fulfilment of the opening benchmarks for Cluster 1 – ‘Fundamentals’ – which covers economic criteria, the functioning of democratic institutions and public administration reform (five of the 33 negotiating chapters).
Two separate Accession Conferences are scheduled for 15 June in Luxembourg, marking the effective end of the “package approach” that has linked the accession paths of Kyiv and Chișinău for more than four years. Under that arrangement, when one candidate (Ukraine) stalled, the other (Moldova) had to wait as well. From now on, each candidate will move forward at its own pace in the negotiations.
“This is a recognition of the determination, courage and hard work shown by both countries in advancing reforms, even in the face of immense challenges,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa in a joint statement. “Enlargement is a strategic choice,” which represents “one of the EU’s greatest success stories and our best investment in our shared future.”
The long-awaited breakthrough began on 3 June, when Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced a “comprehensive agreement” with the Ukrainian counterpart on expanding the rights of the Hungarian minority in the Transcarpathia region. This was considered the essential condition for lifting Budapest’s veto on the opening of accession talks with Kyiv and, indirectly, with Chișinău.
On the same day, the 27 EU ambassadors initiated the process for the formal opening of the first group of negotiating chapters for both Kyiv and Chișinău, giving the mandate to the Working Party on Enlargement and Countries Negotiating Accession to the EU (COELA) to start “intensive” preparatory work.
The Cyprus Presidency of the Council sent letters to both candidates inviting them to submit their negotiating positions. Following a “broad support” for the Presidency’s proposal on the draft EU common positions – as EU officials confirmed after the COREPER meeting on 10 June – the item “Accession negotiations – Fulfilment of opening benchmarks for Cluster 1: Fundamentals” was on the agenda of the 12 June meeting.
Chișinău is also ready to open the remaining five accession clusters “by the end of the summer”, as Ambassador Morari recently confirmed to The New Union Post. She expects this commitment to be reflected in the conclusions of the European Council on 18–19 June. Moldovan sources explain that the hope in Chișinău is for the Accession Conference to take place “on the margins of the General Affairs Council” on 16 June. It could also take place afterwards, but it is “very important” that this happens before the EU–Moldova Summit in Brussels on 22 June.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several EU governments are aiming for opening alla accession chapters. For the time being, however, this goal appears highly ambitious for Kyiv. It should not be forgotten that, despite the historic step announced by Prime Minister Magyar, “Hungary continues to oppose accelerated EU accession” for Ukraine. Not only did he specify that Kyiv’s accession would be “subject to a legally binding referendum”, but he also stated that the expected timeframe for closing all 33 negotiating chapters would be “within the next 10 to 15 years”.
The state of EU relations with Ukraine and Moldova
Just four days after the start of Russia’s war of aggression, on 28 February 2022, Ukraine submitted its application for EU membership, with Moldova following three days later, on 3 March. On 23 June 2022, the European Council endorsed the European Commission’s recommendation to grant Kyiv and Chișinău candidate status.
At the European Council meeting on 14 December 2023, EU leaders gave the green light to open accession negotiations. Following the Council’s approval of the negotiating frameworks, the first intergovernmental conferences with the two countries were held on 25 June 2024 in Luxembourg.
With Viktor Orbán‘s Hungary vetoing the start of Ukraine’s EU negotiations, Moldova’s accession has also been put on hold, as Chișinău’s EU process is tied to Kyiv’s through the so-called “package approach” (which has linked the two dossiers from the very beginning). On 17 March 2026, technical guidance was provided to both Ukraine and Moldova to continue work on EU reforms across all six negotiating clusters, until political conditions allow the formal process to begin – meaning Hungary lifting its veto.
Once Cluster 1 – ‘Fundamentals’ – the first group of five negotiating chapters (out of 33), focusing on economic criteria, the functioning of democratic institutions, and public administration reform – is opened, the other groups of negotiating chapters can follow.
