EU initiates 10-point strategy for Ukraine’s accession talks, bypassing Hungary’s veto
Illustrative photo: the EU offered Ukraine a way to bypass Hungary’s veto (Getty Images)
Ukraine and the European Union agreed on a new 10-point plan on December 11, which will enable Kyiv to technically prepare for EU membership, despite Hungary's veto on the official start of negotiations, according to Euronews and the European Commission's press service.
It is noted that the action plan will allow Ukraine to advance on its path to EU membership despite the veto of Hungary’s pro-Russian government under Viktor Orbán, as Ukraine’s accession to the bloc is a "key element" of post-war security guarantees for the country.
"We see the membership of Ukraine in the EU as the political arm of the European security guarantee for Ukraine… accession will be central to make any peace settlement sustainable," European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said during a meeting in Lviv on December 11.
In a joint statement, Kos and Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister Taras Kachka noted that the plan will allow Kyiv to bypass Hungary’s veto, as Ukraine will unofficially continue reforms while negotiations will proceed at a technical level.
"We are now frontloading all the technical work and that means that even though it's formally still blocked (...) Ukraine is still able to move on. There cannot be a blockade for eternity; it has to be lifted," said Marie Bjerre, Denmark’s Minister for EU Affairs.
10 points for Ukraine
In a joint statement published on the EU website, all the points agreed upon between Ukraine and the European Union are listed. Specifically, Ukraine must:
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Adopt comprehensive amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code and other legislation to ensure swift and high-quality justice.
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Provide the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine with effective access to impartial, timely, and high-quality judicial expertise.
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Align the procedure for appointing and dismissing the Prosecutor General with European practices.
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Align the procedures for selecting, appointing, and transferring prosecutors to leadership and other positions in the General Prosecutor’s Office, as well as in regional and district prosecutor offices, with European practices.
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Reform the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI).
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Appoint new judges to the Constitutional Court and members of the High Council of Justice who have undergone international vetting.
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Expand the participation of international experts in the selection commission for the High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ).
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Adopt a draft law on judges’ integrity declarations.
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Approve the Anti-Corruption Strategy and the State Anti-Corruption Program by the second quarter of 2026 and ensure a high level of implementation.
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Develop and strengthen internal anti-corruption control systems at the highest level.
On December 10, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos arrived in Ukraine for a two-day visit. She was scheduled to hold a series of informal meetings with Ukrainian officials.
EU Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier told RBC-Ukraine that Ukraine’s timeline for EU accession depends on the implementation of reforms. At the same time, the Ukrainian government stated its intention to complete accession negotiations by the end of 2028.
Interestingly, the US peace plan envisions Ukraine joining the EU on an accelerated timeline — by 2027. Washington is confident it will be able to overcome the resistance of Hungary and other countries that may try to block Ukraine’s accession to the bloc.
