Ukraine accession negotiations: EU says acquis screening progressing smoothly, hopes to open talks on fundamentals as soon as possible

Following the opening of EU accession negotiations with Ukraine in December 2023, the European Commission is looking forward to the opening of negotiations with Ukraine on clusters, starting with the fundamentals, as soon as possible in 2025, the Commission said today with the adoption of its annual Enlargement Package.

“The opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine has been an important recognition of Ukraine’s determination to pursue reforms on the path of EU accession. Following the first intergovernmental conference in June 2024, the analytical examination of the acquis (the screening) is progressing smoothly,” the EC said. “Subject to Ukraine meeting all the conditions, the Commission is looking forward to the opening of negotiations on clusters, starting with the fundamentals, as soon as possible in 2025.”

In spite of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression, Ukraine has maintained its strong commitment to reform across many sectors, the EC says in its 2024 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy. The Ukraine Plan, endorsed in April 2024 and serving as a comprehensive reform strategy, has contributed to strengthening broader policy commitments within the enlargement process, while with the Ukraine Facility, the EU continues to tie its financial support for the recovery with the reforms needed to lift Ukraine’s economy and to help it on the path towards accession. 

The EU said that security, resilience and defence support, as well as Ukraine’s EU accession process, support to reforms, macro-financial, humanitarian and reconstruction assistance all reinforced one another. For its part, Ukraine has committed to continue undertaking reforms in line with its EU path, including in the security, defence and intelligence sectors, the Communication said.

Find out more

Press release

Ukraine Report 2024

Ukraine 2024 Enlargement Package Factsheet

EU accession process step by step