EU sets out reforms that will determine course of Ukraine's accession talks

Ukraine’s progress in the European Union accession negotiations will first and foremost be determined by its ability to implement a cluster of fundamental reforms, the majority of which focus on the rule of law.

Hadja Lahbib, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, during an intergovernmental conference in Luxembourg, which launched Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations, said that the goal of the negotiations is to ensure that Ukraine adopts and implements the EU acquis, or the fundamental norms and rules of the European Union.

"The EU expects that Ukraine will continue demonstrating the credibility of its promises and political will by implementing the necessary reforms and making tangible progress with regards to the fundamental cluster. The active participation of civil society in the reform process remains essential to ensure the reforms’ successful implementation in the long term," Lahbib said.

According to Lahbib, Ukraine needs to press on with reforms concerning the rule of law, basic human rights, and the government apparatus, and to move towards meeting the EU’s economic criteria.

"Particular attention will have to be paid to the justice system reform, the fight against corruption, and the protection of and non-discrimination towards national minorities," she said.

of the negotiations," Lahbib stressed, adding that "in order to ensure that progress in all these areas is irreversible and that the reforms are complete and effective, the Commission will continue to closely monitor progress and report regularly to the European Council."

The first Intergovernmental Conference for Ukraine’s EU Accession, which officially launches the negotiations regarding Ukraine’s EU membership, began in Luxembourg on the afternoon of 25 June.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Charles Michel, President of the EU Council, and a number of leaders of the EU member states delivered speeches after the start of negotiations.