Ukraine and Moldova have begun the first formal stage of European Union membership negotiations in Luxembourg after all 27 EU member states agreed to open the first cluster of talks. The move is widely described as a symbolic and political milestone, but both countries still face years of reform, screening and unanimous approval before accession can be completed.
First stage opens in Luxembourg
Ukraine and Moldova started the initial phase of their EU accession talks on Monday in Luxembourg, with separate intergovernmental conferences marking the formal opening of the “Fundamentals” cluster, according to Euronews and Moldova’s state outlet. The Guardian reported that the talks were to be led by senior EU officials alongside ministers from both countries, after the bloc reached unanimous agreement to proceed.
As reported by The Guardian, the recent election of a new government in Hungary in April removed the last major obstacle to unanimity among the member states, allowing the EU to agree last Friday to open the first cluster of negotiations. According to Euronews, that decision followed Hungary’s lifting of a two-year veto, which unblocked the formal step taken in Luxembourg.
What the first cluster means
The first cluster, known as “Fundamentals”, covers rule of law and democracy, making it the most politically sensitive part of the accession process. Moldova 1 said the conference in Luxembourg represented the second Intergovernmental Conference between Moldova and the EU and the formal opening of the most critical pillar in the negotiations.
According to the reporting cited by The Guardian, EU officials see the opening as an important signal to both candidate countries and other neighbours, but the move remains only the start of a long technical and political process. The formal talks will run through a detailed screening of national laws and institutions to measure how closely they align with EU standards.
Ukraine’s reform position
The Guardian reported that Brussels believes Ukraine has completed about 15% of the reforms set out in the ten-point plan agreed with the EU last December. Those reforms reportedly include strengthening the independence of anti-corruption bodies such as NABU and SAP, drafting an anti-corruption strategy, and changing the way judges and prosecutors are appointed.
The same report said EU officials consider Ukraine’s reform agenda ambitious, but also believe Kyiv has not moved quickly enough on the priorities already agreed. Even so, European officials reportedly think technical negotiations could be completed in roughly four years if the reform drive continues, although they stress that the final political decision rests with all member states.
Moldova’s parallel path
Moldova’s accession track moved forward at the same time as Ukraine’s, with the country officially opening its first negotiation cluster in Luxembourg. Moldova 1 said EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos had confirmed in Chisinau that Moldova and Ukraine could open the first cluster in mid-June under the Cypriot Council presidency.
The broader process was also formally launched in 2024, when the European Union opened accession negotiations with both Ukraine and Moldova after a decision taken in December 2023. The Luxembourg conference this week is a continuation of that process, rather than a separate political launch from scratch.
Why the timing matters
The timing of the move is politically significant because it follows months of EU discussion over whether enlargement could advance while the war in Ukraine continues and while reform concerns remain across both candidate states. Reuters-style coverage reproduced by Al Jazeera noted that the formal opening of talks is only the beginning of a process that typically lasts years and covers wide-ranging issues such as agriculture and legal frameworks.
The earlier 2024 launch in Luxembourg was also described by the Boston Globe as a major milestone, but one that would take years to conclude and would not immediately place either country on the threshold of membership. That report said the conferences began the alignment of laws and standards with the bloc’s rules, while the actual negotiations were expected to continue over a longer period.
Broader European context
The accession push comes against the backdrop of continued Russian pressure on Ukraine and wider regional concern over Moscow’s influence in the post-Soviet space. The Guardian framed both countries as former Soviet republics making a decisive move towards the European Union, while emphasising that accession still depends on full compliance with EU law and the approval of all member states.
Moldova 1 said the conference in Luxembourg would formally open the “Fundamentals” chapter and launch the first set of negotiation chapters focused on core values and the rule of law. The EU’s public messaging has presented the step as evidence that both governments are continuing to transform their systems in line with membership requirements.
What happens next
After the Luxembourg conferences, the European Commission will move into screening and assessment work to compare Ukrainian and Moldovan laws with EU legislation, according to the Latvian Foreign Ministry’s account of the process. That stage is needed before further negotiation chapters can be opened.
The eventual decision on membership still requires unanimous agreement from all EU states, which means the process can be slowed or blocked by political disputes at any stage. For now, the opening of the first cluster is being treated across coverage as a major diplomatic breakthrough, but not as a guarantee of eventual accession.
