EU formally launches accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova amid long reform path
The European Union has formally launched accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova, marking the start of a process that could take years to complete. The opening was marked by an intergovernmental conference in Luxembourg, where Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka took part as the first stage of negotiations began. The move is a significant diplomatic step for both countries, but it does not by itself guarantee eventual membership.
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The talks begin with the opening of five key chapters in the accession process, which requires candidate countries to align their laws and institutions with EU rules across 35 policy areas. Kachka said Ukraine needed faster and more comprehensive accession, arguing that aggression against Ukraine and threats against Europe were a permanent policy of Russia. The process had been delayed for years, including by Hungary under Viktor Orban, before Budapest agreed to lift its veto.
The development matters because Ukraine sees EU membership as a security guarantee while it continues to fight Russia's invasion. It also comes as the bloc weighs the political and legal implications of enlargement during an active war, with concerns inside the EU about Ukraine's readiness and the wider security consequences. Moldova is part of the same opening, and Russia has also been trying to keep it within its orbit, including through an alleged disinformation campaign during last year's elections.
Countries seeking EU membership must complete negotiations in a series of chapters covering areas such as agriculture, taxation, energy and trade, and unanimous approval is needed from all member states at each stage. The process is designed to test whether candidates can meet the standards expected of EU members in governance, public administration and economic alignment. For Ukraine, the talks are also tied to its broader effort to anchor itself more firmly to the West while the war continues.
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Hungary's role has been central to the delay, with its former leadership repeatedly blocking the opening of talks. The row eased after Viktor Orban lost the election in April and his successor, Péter Magyar, moved to align more closely with the EU mainstream. Last week, Hungary agreed to lift its veto after Brussels unlocked more than €16bn in frozen EU funds for Budapest, clearing the way for Monday's launch.
What remains unclear is how quickly either country can move beyond the first stage, and whether all member states will maintain support as the negotiations become more detailed. The next steps will depend on progress in the fundamentals and on continued political backing inside the bloc. For now, the launch gives fresh momentum to one of the EU's most sensitive foreign policy projects.
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