All 27 European Union (EU) member countries have agreed to begin the first set of talks with Ukraine and Moldova about joining the political and economic bloc.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said the development meant Kyiv was one step closer towards its objective of EU membership.
“Fantastic news — all EU member states have given the green light to open Cluster 1 in accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova. We are one step closer to EU membership: steadily moving towards our goal,” she wrote on X on Thursday.
Cyprus, which currently holds the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, said Moldova and the Ukraine had reached a “significant milestone in their European integration path.”
“The Cyprus Presidency, guided by the merit-based approach, is delivering on enlargement, which is a strategic priority and one of the European Union’s most transformative policies,” it said on X.
Hungary said it had dropped its long-standing opposition to Ukraine's bid for EU membership on Tuesday after reaching an agreement with Kyiv on the rights of the 100,000-strong Hungarian minority in the country.
Newly elected Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said that according to the agreement, Ukraine will restore a system of schools for ethnic minorities, and children will be able to use their native language in school settings.
The first set of negotiations about Ukraine’s and Moldova’s accession are expected to take place at an event in Luxembourg on 15 June, Politico reported.
Kyiv and Chisinau made a bid for EU membership simultaneously meaning that Moldova’s application can only move forward if Ukraine’s does.
The first set of formal talks on EU membership will cover the rule of law and democratic standards in both countries.
Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement, said the two countries were in a good position ahead of the commenement of the talks.
"Ukraine and Moldova are already now delivering on rule of law requirements set by member states. It is now time to accelerate on their road to EU membership," she said in a post on X.
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Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 10 prisoners of war each in Belarus, Moscow's Human Rights Commissioner, Yana Lantratova, has said.
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