EU and Ukraine open first accession negotiations cluster on ‘fundamentals’ 

On 15 June, the EU and Ukraine opened accession negotiations on the ‘Fundamentals’ cluster. The second meeting of the Accession Conference with Ukraine was held on Monday in Luxembourg.

This cluster covers the core values and principles on which the EU is built. It includes the EU acquis related to the rule of law and fundamental rights, the functioning of democratic institutions, public administration reform, and economic criteria.

“Today’s historic milestone is a highlight of the Cyprus presidency and sends a clear message: the future of Ukraine and its citizens is firmly anchored in the European Union. Today’s Accession Conference also underscores Ukraine’s steadfast commitment to European integration and recognises the substantial progress achieved in the face of unprecedented challenges,” said Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European affairs of the Republic of Cyprus.

Negotiations on the Fundamentals cluster are the first ones to be opened and the last ones to be closed in the accession process. Progress under this cluster will determine the overall pace of negotiations.

Cluster 1 ‘Fundamentals’ includes the following negotiating chapters:

• Chapter 23 – Judiciary and fundamental rights
• Chapter 24 – Justice, freedom and security
• Chapter 5 – Public procurement
• Chapter 18 – Statistics
• Chapter 32 – Financial control

The EU has set interim benchmarks both for the horizontal level of the cluster and for the rule of law chapters (23 and 24). These benchmarks will need to be met before the negotiating process can move into its concluding phase with the provisional closure of the chapter.

In addition, the EU has set benchmarks for the provisional closure of the other chapters on public procurement, statistics and financial control (5, 18 and 32).

Ukraine applied to join the EU in spring 2022 and opened EU accession negotiations in June 2024. Since then, Ukraine has completed the screening process.

Find out more

Press release

EU accession process step by step

EU accession negotiations state of play (November 2025)