Policy

Stefanishyna told how Ukraine’s European integration will take place in 2025

Ukraine plans to start negotiations on accession to the EU in the first cluster in April, and the rest of the clusters by the end of 2025. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna, according to Komersant ukrainskyi citing Yevropeiska Pravda.

“In April, we can open negotiations (on one cluster), and in June we will be ready to open negotiations on two more clusters. And, accordingly, during the Danish presidency, we will also open three clusters… That is, (we want to open) all of them,”

– stefanishyna said.

According to her, during the first half of 2024, when Poland holds the presidency, it is planned to open clusters 1, 2 and 6. The remaining three clusters are to be opened in the second half of 2025 during the Danish presidency.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the first Fundamentals cluster, which deals with the rule of law.

“The Fundamentals cluster is actually the main one for us. It structures and unites the state very well around the key areas in which the country will move in terms of public administration, in terms of the functioning of institutions, in terms of anti-corruption policy,”

– the official said.

Speaking about the second cluster, which concerns the domestic market, Stefanishyna used a figurative language:

“If the first cluster is the soul of our future membership, then the internal market is its body, which you can rush to the EU with your soul, but not with your feet. Therefore, the first and second clusters are very important to us.”

The Deputy Prime Minister also added that the Polish presidency proposed to start negotiations on foreign and security policy, including trade policy.

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A brief history of Ukraine’s European integration

After gaining independence in 1991, Ukraine began to develop relations with the European Union. In 1994, a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement was signed, which entered into force in 1998.

In 2003, the EU offered Ukraine the Wider Europe Policy, which later evolved into the European Neighborhood Policy. It provided for closer ties, but without the prospect of membership.

In 2005, the EU-Ukraine Action Plan under the European Neighborhood Policy was adopted. This document defined specific steps to deepen Ukraine’s integration with the EU in various areas.

In 2007, negotiations began on a new and enhanced agreement, which later became the Association Agreement. These negotiations lasted for several years.

In 2009, the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative was launched to deepen relations with six countries, including Ukraine. This was an important step on the way to signing the Association Agreement and obtaining a visa-free regime.

In November 2013, the government’s decision to suspend preparations for the signing of the Association Agreement led to mass protests known as Euromaidan. As a result of these events, the Agreement was signed in 2014. After the signing of the Agreement, Ukraine began the process of its implementation, which included reforms in various areas to bring it closer to EU standards.

In June 2022, against the backdrop of a full-scale Russian invasion, Ukraine was granted candidate status for EU membership.

on December 14, 2023, at a summit in Brussels, the leaders of the European Union approved the start of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU.

on March 12, the European Commission officially presented the negotiation framework for Ukraine’s accession to the EU. It sets out the guidelines and framework for accession negotiations with each candidate country.

on October 30, 2024, the European Commission announced that Ukraine had completed all the preliminary necessary steps and the EU was ready to open the first negotiation cluster in 2025.

What remains to be done

According to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Ukraine has the following steps to go on its way to EU membership:

• Ukraine and the EU negotiate Ukraine’s accession to the EU until all negotiating clusters are closed;
• The European Commission presents its opinion on Ukraine’s readiness to join the EU;
• the EU member states and the European Parliament unanimously decide to sign the Accession Agreement with Ukraine;
• The European Parliament and the national parliaments of all EU member states and Ukraine ratify the EU-Ukraine Accession Agreement.

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