BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union agreed Friday to start membership negotiations with embattled Ukraine and Moldova, another step in the countries’ long journey to move closer to the West and blunt Russia’s influence.
Belgium, which currently holds the EU presidency, said member states have agreed that talks will start in Luxembourg on June 25.
Ukraine applied to join the bloc less than a week after Russia invaded in February 2022, and EU leaders acted with unusual speed by making the country a candidate in June that year. But the process has slowed since then — and membership, if it comes, will take years or even decades.
Nevertheless, the opening of the talks once again sends a strong signal of solidarity with Ukraine, on top of the enormous financial support from the EU.
Leaders of the 27-nation bloc agreed last year to begin accession negotiations with both Ukraine and Moldova. That was a necessary political agreement, and Friday’s move lays the legal foundation for the talks
To join the EU, candidate countries must go through a lengthy process of aligning their laws and standards with those of the bloc and meeting a host of economic and political conditions, including a commitment to the rule of law and other democratic principles. Ukraine, for example, will need to curb entrenched government corruption and implement other reforms.
Ukraine is one of many countries that have long wanted to join the EU and see this as a path to prosperity and stability. Although the EU is not a military alliance like NATO, membership in the bloc is also seen by some as a protection against Russian influence.
Moldova has been watching with anticipation the invasion of its neighbor by Russia. The country has repeatedly accused Russia of waging a “hybrid war” against the country, including claiming that Moscow has meddled in local elections and is waging large-scale disinformation campaigns in an attempt to overthrow the government and prevent its entry to derail the EU.
Russia has denied the allegations, but the Moldovan government remains wary of Moscow’s intentions.
“Today I signed the decree on starting Moldovan accession negotiations to the EU,” said Maia Sandu, the President of Moldova. “Joining the EU is our path to peace, prosperity and a better life for all citizens.”
