STORY
The European Union has opened negotiations with Ukraine on the part of the EU acquis covering external relations policies. The step was taken at the third meeting of the Accession Conference and marks further progress in Ukraine’s path towards membership.
The talks cover the extent to which Ukraine’s policies align with EU rules and international commitments in external relations. The accession process requires candidate countries to satisfy detailed legal, institutional and political conditions before joining the bloc.
Ukraine’s membership bid has become a central strategic issue for the EU since Russia’s invasion. European leaders continue to support Kyiv’s European ambitions, although enlargement also raises questions about institutional reform, funding and the future shape of the Union.