The European Commission has sent the European Council the first screening report on the cluster "Fundamentals of negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the EU". The document sent on January 16, 2025 will be the basis for discussions between Member States.
The EU accession process is divided into 35 sections grouped into six clusters. The first cluster, the "basics", contains the basic provisions and criteria that the candidate country must be fulfilled for further promotion in the negotiations.
Ukraine is currently undergoing a bilateral check, which will last until the fall of 2025. If all the conditions are fulfilled, opening clusters may start at the end of 2025.
The decision on Ukraine's accession to the EU must be made unanimously by all Member States. This applies to each stage of the negotiation, including the opening and closing of clusters.
The European Commissioner on Extension of Marta Kos confirmed that the first and thirty -first cluster could be opened in 2025. She also stressed that the extension remains a priority for the current European Commission.
- Fulfillment of conditions on the first cluster.
- Discussion of screening reports with Member States.
- Negotiations on other clusters in 2025.
