OMM Redaksiyası
The European Union opened accession negotiations with Ukraine on Tuesday on two clusters: “internal market” and “competitiveness and inclusive growth”. The move marks another step toward Ukraine’s membership in the bloc.
The clusters cover the free movement of goods, services, workers and capital, as well as competition, taxation, employment, education, digital transformation, industry and economic and monetary policy.
“We have today reached another milestone on Ukraine’s EU membership journey,” Irish Minister of State for European Affairs and Defense Thomas Byrne said. He added that Ireland’s EU presidency was committed to advancing Ukraine’s accession process.
The EU also set benchmarks for the provisional closure of chapters in the two clusters. Progress in aligning with and implementing EU legislation and standards will be monitored throughout the negotiations.
The decision follows the opening of negotiations on the external relations cluster in July 2026.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the country had taken another step toward EU membership and urged the bloc to open the remaining two negotiating clusters by the end of the year.
“I am deeply grateful to everyone who fights for Ukraine and works in the interests of our state, for its European future, and for Europe’s security. Together, we are a stronger Europe,” he wrote on the social media platform “X”, thanking EU leaders and member states for their support.
