EU Agrees ‘In Principle’ On Starting Accession Talks for Ukraine, Moldova

European Union flags flutter outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium May 5, 2021. Yves Herman, Reuters

Ambassadors from the EU's 27 member states on Friday “agreed in principle” on beginning accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on June 25, the Belgian presidency of the EU's Council said.
“Ambassadors agreed in principle on the negotiating frameworks for the accession negotiations of Ukraine and Moldova. The Belgian presidency will call the first intergovernmental conferences on 25 June,” it said.
The presidency added that EU ministers are due to formally approve the decision during a meeting on June 21. In the Netherlands, parliament must also give its consent.
Ukraine and fellow neighbor Moldova applied to join the EU shortly after Russia launched its all-out invasion in February 2022.
In a historic step, EU leaders agreed in mid-December to open accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova.
But Hungary continues to veto the start of negotiations concerning Ukraine's accession to the EU, arguing that Kiev has not yet met the conditions required for the launch of such talks.
On June 7, the Commission said that both countries met all the criteria for accession negotiations formally to begin.
The Commission had previously called on Kyiv to take action to combat corruption and the influence of oligarchs.
Also, UNHCR called for the promotion of the rights of ethnic minorities, a demand Budapest insisted on due to the presence of a Hungarian community in Ukraine.
Starting the negotiations would put Ukraine at the start of what is likely to be a years-long process before it can finally become a member.
Ukraine, with a population of more than 40 million people, is an agricultural powerhouse. Its accession to the EU will face many obstacles.