Ukraine's EU accession: Reuters reveals new European Commission requirements for Kyiv
Photo: Ukraine on its path to the European Union (Getty Images)
The European Commission, in its draft report, recognized Ukraine’s "remarkable commitment" to European integration but emphasized that Kyiv must intensify judicial reforms and strengthen anti-corruption efforts, according to Reuters.
According to the report, Ukraine has demonstrated a clear commitment to its European integration path and has implemented several significant reforms, despite the ongoing war.
However, the European Commission pointed out several issues Kyiv must address to advance toward EU membership, namely, judicial reforms and stronger anti-corruption measures.
Brussels expressed concern over "negative trends," including increased political pressure on anti-corruption institutions, attempts to undermine their independence, and threats to civil society.
The Commission urged Kyiv to rectify these shortcomings, warning that they could slow down accession negotiations. It also stressed the importance of reforming the judiciary, combating organized crime, and ensuring transparency in public institutions.
Although most EU member states publicly support Ukraine’s accession, the document notes that any real progress requires unanimous approval. No official timeline has been set for the next stage of talks, as Hungary continues to block the process.
Ukraine has stated that it aims to complete EU accession negotiations by the end of 2028, while the European Commission believes that reaching this ambitious goal will require accelerated reforms, especially in justice and the rule of law.
The draft report also proposes tougher safeguards for candidate countries, ensuring that once admitted, they cannot backslide on democratic principles or obligations undertaken during accession talks.
Background: Ukraine's path to EU
Ukraine applied for EU membership just days after Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
On November 4, Brussels will host an EU enlargement summit, where leaders of member states and candidate countries will discuss the next steps in integration. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to deliver a speech at the event.
During the summit, the European Commission will present its progress report on Ukraine, which is expected to give Kyiv a mostly positive assessment.
However, the European Union has not yet officially launched accession talks due to Hungary’s opposition. In response, Lithuania has proposed initiating technical negotiations among the other 26 member states without Budapest’s participation.
