Ukraine-EU Talks on Membership Chapters May Start in Early 2025, Von Der Leyen Says

The European Union should be ready to open the negotiations with Ukraine on the fundamentals cluster in early 2025 and other clusters during this year, the President of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, has said.

In her speech at the European Parliament Plenary, von der Leyen said that Ukraine has achieved “tremendous progress” towards EU membership, Schengen.News reports.

The EU President said that Ukrainians are fighting for their future in the EU, and they must know that their efforts are paying off.

Ukraine Aims to Open All EU Negotiation Clusters in 2025
On December 17, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, said that Ukraine’s goal is to open all negotiating clusters with the European Union in 2025.

At the same time, the European Union’s Commissioner for Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, said that Ukraine could become part of the EU by 2029 if it completes the necessary reforms, as quoted by Kyiv Independent.

Ukraine’s Accession to EU Would Boost the Economy
Earlier this month, the European Council President, Antonio Costa, said that the integration of Ukraine into the EU would help to address vulnerabilities in the competitiveness of the bloc. Costa also said that the accession of Ukraine to the bloc would boost the EU’s economy.

On December 1, 2024, the European Council President, Antonio, met in Kyiv with the High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, as well as the new Commissioner in charge of enlargement, Marta Kos.

In a joint press conference, Costa said that Ukraine is part of the European family, adding that the EU is looking forward to welcoming Ukraine as a member of the bloc.

The European Council President also said that the EU and Ukraine will work together to open at least two clusters of Ukraine’s negotiations in the first semester of the next year. 

Ukraine applied for membership in the European Union on February 28, 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

On June 25, 2024, the European Union ministers agreed to launch accession talks with Ukraine.

Source: https://schengen.news/ukraine-eu-talks-on-membership-chapters-may-start-in-early-2025-von-der-leyen-says/