EU postpones discussion on start of Ukraine's membership negotiations – media

The discussion of the adoption of the EU membership negotiations framework for Ukraine and Moldova at the level of ambassador, planned for 12 June, has been postponed.

As reported by Rikard Jozwiak, editor of Radio Liberty for Europe’s Affairs, the discussion was reportedly postponed until next week. Jozwiak did not specify the reason for the delay.

"The discussion among [the European] ambassadors tomorrow on the negotiation frameworks for [Ukraine and Moldova] have been postponed till next week. Aim is still to officially launch accession talks with the pair at the end of June but [the time is running out]..."

On 7 June the European Commission confirmed that it had given a positive verbal assessment concerning the process of European integration reforms by Ukraine and Moldova, published in the November enlargement report.

Now permanent representatives of the EU member states have to give their approval. Only upon agreement of all EU states Ukraine’s membership negotiations can really start.

At the same time, media reports indicate that Permanent Representatives of the European Union member states have again failed to make a decision on the European Commission's recommendation to start EU accession talks with Ukraine, as Hungary has raised objections.

On 11 June in Berlin European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that Ukraine had completed all the necessary steps to start EU accession negotiations by the end of this month.