Ambassadors from the 27 European Union countries agreed on Friday to advance membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova, marking a significant diplomatic breakthrough after months of delays caused by Hungary. The first phase of negotiations is scheduled to begin on Monday at an Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels.
The decision comes after a new government in Budapest reached an agreement with Kyiv this month on the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine, effectively lifting the blockade that had stalled the process. EU membership talks Ukraine represent a key strategic goal for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as his country continues to defend itself against Russian military aggression.
Main developments
European Council President Antonio Costa announced the advancement following the ambassadors meeting in Brussels on June 12, 2026. Costa stated that the European Union took a major step forward with this decision.
The first Intergovernmental Conference scheduled for Monday, June 15, 2026, will open the cluster on fundamentals, which Costa described as the backbone of the accession process. This initial cluster of talks will focus on policy areas where both Ukraine and Moldova must reform their laws to meet EU standards, including fundamental rights requirements.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen characterized the advancement as a recognition of the determination, courage and hard work shown by both countries in advancing reforms, even in the face of immense challenges. She added that it represents a signal that the EU’s offer of peace, stability and opportunity is unmatchable.
What we know so far
EU leaders first agreed to open accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova in December 2023. However, the previous Hungarian government blocked Kyiv’s membership bid, creating a diplomatic standstill that persisted until recent weeks.
The breakthrough came this month when the new Hungarian government reached an agreement with Ukrainian authorities concerning the rights of the Hungarian minority living in Ukraine. The specific details of this agreement have not been publicly disclosed.
Under EU accession procedures, candidate countries must negotiate policy chapters grouped into six thematic clusters. These clusters cover fundamental rights, the internal market, and external relations, among other areas. Both Ukraine and Moldova will now begin working through these requirements as part of their path toward potential membership.
What happens next
The first Intergovernmental Conference is set to begin on Monday, where officials will formally open the cluster on fundamentals. This represents the starting point of what is traditionally a lengthy accession process requiring extensive legal and institutional reforms from candidate countries.
Both Ukraine and Moldova will need to demonstrate progress in aligning their national laws with EU standards across multiple policy areas. The fundamentals cluster, which forms the foundation of the accession process, will require both countries to show compliance with EU requirements on fundamental rights and related policies.
EU membership remains a complex and multi-year process. The advancement to the first negotiation phase does not guarantee eventual membership for either country, but it does represent concrete progress toward that goal.
Important details
The accession process involves six thematic clusters that candidate countries must successfully negotiate. These clusters encompass a wide range of policy areas including fundamental rights, internal market regulations, and external relations policies.
For Ukraine, EU membership represents not only an economic and political objective but also a statement of its European orientation during ongoing military conflict with Russia. President Zelenskyy has made EU accession a central priority of his administration.
Moldova, which shares a border with Ukraine and has also faced pressure from Russia, joins Ukraine in advancing through the membership process. Both countries began their formal candidacy journeys in 2023 when EU leaders agreed to open accession talks.
The Hungarian blockade had created significant tension within the EU, as the union requires unanimous consent from all 27 member states for major decisions including the advancement of membership applications. The resolution of the Hungarian minority rights issue removed this obstacle and allowed the process to move forward.
The significance of the fundamentals cluster
The opening of negotiations on the fundamentals cluster carries particular importance because it establishes the baseline requirements that candidate countries must meet. This cluster addresses core EU values and legal standards that form the foundation for all subsequent negotiations.
Both Ukraine and Moldova have already undertaken reform efforts to prepare for this stage of the process. The EU has acknowledged these efforts, with Commission President von der Leyen specifically praising both countries for advancing reforms despite facing immense challenges.
The fundamentals cluster will examine how well each country’s legal framework aligns with EU standards on fundamental rights and related policy areas. Successful completion of this cluster is necessary before proceeding to other thematic areas.
Diplomatic context
The agreement reached in Brussels represents the culmination of diplomatic efforts that began in December 2023. The initial decision by EU leaders to open accession talks signaled strong political support for both Ukraine and Moldova, but the subsequent Hungarian blockade demonstrated the complexities of achieving consensus within the 27-member bloc.
The new Hungarian government’s willingness to reach an agreement with Kyiv on minority rights issues proved decisive in breaking the impasse. This agreement, reached in June 2026, addressed Hungarian concerns about the treatment of ethnic Hungarians living in Ukraine.
The unanimous approval by EU ambassadors on Friday confirmed that all 27 member states now support moving forward with the membership talks. This unity allows the formal negotiation process to begin on schedule.
Frequently asked questions
When will Ukraine and Moldova membership talks begin?
The first Intergovernmental Conference is scheduled to begin on Monday, June 15, 2026, when officials will open the cluster on fundamentals.
What blocked the membership talks previously?
The previous Hungarian government blocked Kyiv’s membership bid. A new government in Budapest reached an agreement with Kyiv this month on the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine, lifting the blockade.
How does the EU membership process work?
Candidate countries negotiate policy chapters grouped into six thematic clusters covering fundamental rights, internal market, and external relations. The fundamentals cluster forms the backbone of the accession process.
When did EU leaders first agree to open accession talks?
EU leaders agreed to open accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova in December 2023.
How many EU countries had to approve the membership talks?
All 27 EU member countries had to agree, and ambassadors from all 27 nations approved advancing the talks on June 12, 2026.
The advancement of membership talks for Ukraine and Moldova marks a significant milestone in both countries’ European aspirations. With the first Intergovernmental Conference set for Monday, the formal negotiation process will begin under the close attention of EU institutions, member states, and the international community.
