EU member states officially endorsed the commencement of accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova next week, marking a milestone in both countries' journeys toward EU membership.

Negotiations will commence in Luxembourg on Tuesday, beginning with Ukraine followed by Moldova, as confirmed by Belgium, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky described the start of talks as a "historic step".

"Millions of Ukrainians, and indeed generations of our people, are realizing their European dream," the Ukrainian President said in a post on X.

"Ukraine is returning to Europe, where it has belonged for centuries, as a full-fledged member of the European community," he added.

This comes shortly after ambassadors from the European Union's 27 member states "agreed in principle" on June 15 to initiate accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova starting June 25, announced the Belgian presidency of the EU's Council.

"Ambassadors agreed in principle on the negotiating frameworks for the accession negotiations of Ukraine and Moldova. The Belgian presidency will call the first intergovernmental conferences on 25 June," it said.

Dive deeper

Ukraine, followed by its neighbor Moldova, submitted its applications to join the 27-nation EU following the beginning of the Ukraine war in 2022.

Commencing negotiations marks the initial stage of what is anticipated to be a lengthy process of reforms before both former Soviet states can potentially become EU members.

EU leaders decided in December to initiate talks on Ukraine, which has been impacted by war, as well as Moldova, joining the European Union. However, formal approval from EU member states was required to formally establish the framework necessary to begin these negotiations.

Earlier this month, the EU's executive informed member states that Ukraine and Moldova had fulfilled all the requirements necessary to commence accession talks. There is mounting pressure to advance Ukraine to the next stage of its membership journey, particularly amid concerns that Hungary could hinder progress once it assumes the EU's rotating presidency in July.

Why it matters

Hungary, known for its close ties to Russia within the EU, has declared it will not conduct further rounds of talks with Ukraine during its six-month presidency.

The ongoing war in Ukraine has spurred renewed EU interest in expanding membership, contrasting with previous years of limited progress for countries, especially in the Western Balkans, aspiring to join.

In December 2023, the EU also granted candidate status to Georgia, another former Soviet neighbor of Russia. Additionally, the EU has approved accession negotiations with Bosnia and initiated talks with Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, and North Macedonia.

Turkey, a NATO member, has been a candidate for EU membership since 1999 and began negotiations in 2005, but its pursuit of EU accession has stalled in practice despite remaining nominally on the agenda.

Read more: Stoltenberg says NATO must keep Ukraine's membership process simple