EU officially launches Ukraine and Moldova accession process

The European Union has officially launched the accession process for Ukraine and Moldova.

The formal launch on Monday will require both countries to commit to years of political reforms. Ukraine must start the complex process while it continues to fight Russia’s invasion, but Kyiv views EU membership as a security guarantee and an anchor for its efforts to join the West.

Marking the event, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister, Taras Kachka, joined an intergovernmental conference in Luxembourg that opened talks to help Kyiv align with the 27-member bloc’s laws, standards and values.

“Aggression against Ukraine and threats against Europe is a permanent policy of Russia, so that’s why we need to be united,” Kachka told journalists. “That’s why we need faster and very comprehensive accession to the European Union.”

However, there is considerable concern within the EU concerning Ukraine’s readiness to join, as well as the security implications given the conflict with Russia and Moscow’s announced annexation of five regions.

Ukraine’s best security guarantee would be membership in the NATO military alliance, but the Trump administration in the United States insisted that cannot happen, and other member states are wary while the conflict with Russia continues.

Ukraine’s accession process was long stymied by Hungary under former Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose illiberal regime was considered Russia’s strongest ally in Europe and a possible threat to the EU project. However, Orban lost the election in April.

His successor, Péter Magyar, has sought a swift return to the EU mainstream, and last week agreed to lift Hungary’s veto on Ukraine’s membership bid – a move that followed shortly after Brussels agreed to unlock over €16bn ($18bn) in frozen EU funds for Budapest.