Brussels, Belgium

The ambassadors of the European Union, on Friday (Jun 14) agreed to formally start accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, said the Belgian EU presidency. The agreement comes amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, and accusations that Moscow is planning to destabilise the government in Chisinau. 

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EU agrees ‘in principle’

Belgium, which holds the six-month rotating presidency of the EU, said that the decision should be officially cleared following the finance and economy ministers' meeting next Friday (Jun 21), reported Reuters. 

“Ambassadors agreed in principle on the negotiating frameworks for the accession negotiations of Ukraine and Moldova,” said the Belgian presidency in a post on X. It added that the first intergovernmental conferences will take place on June 25.

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The agreement came ahead of the Ukraine peace summit which will take place in the Swiss mountain top resort of Buergenstoc over the weekend in a bid to end the ongoing war between Kyiv and Moscow.

Also Read | Putin slams West's 'hypocrisy', sets out conditions for peace talks with Ukraine

The announcement also comes a week after the EU Commission said both countries met all the criteria for accession negotiations formally to begin. The criteria included efforts to curb the power of oligarchs and better ensure the rights of ethnic minorities.

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Ukraine and its neighbouring Moldova had applied to join the 27-nation bloc shortly after the beginning of the Russian invasion in 2022. 

However, Hungary, which has close ties to Russia, as well as the new right-wing government in the Netherlands could derail the move. All 27 EU member nations must unanimously agree to formally start the accession negotiations, which could go on for years. 

The EU Commission and Belgium had been keen on reaching an agreement before Hungary took over the rotating presidency from July 1 for the next six months. Belgium’s presidency ends on June 30. 

Charles Michel, president of the European Council, took to X and welcomed the agreement and said that he looks forward to the first intergovernmental conferences with both, Kyiv and Chisinau. 

He added, “We keep our promises and we will support you along the way to membership”. 

Ukraine and Moldova’s long road to EU membership

The beginning of the negotiations would lead both Ukraine and Moldova to the start of what is likely to be a years-long process of reforms before they can become members of the 27-nation bloc. 

Also Read | UK, US, and Canada accuse Russia of interfering in Moldovan elections

Officials in Moldova have repeatedly accused the Kremlin of seeking to destabilise the country, particularly since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

The United States, Britain, and Canada, on Thursday (Jun 13) accused Russia of carrying out a plot to sway the outcome of the Moldovan presidential election which will take place in October. 

According to a statement by the US State Department, Russia is working to exacerbate societal tensions and foment negative perceptions of the West as well as the incumbent government of pro-Western Moldovan President Maia Sandu. 

(With inputs from agencies)