Ukraine wants to open all negotiation clusters with the EU by the end of the year
Ukraine expects to open the remaining negotiation chapters on accession to the European Union by the end of 2026. Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi discussed progress on European integration with European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and stated that the government, together with parliament, is working to accelerate the necessary reforms.
The parties discussed the progress of Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations. The Ukrainian side expects to open the remaining negotiation chapters by the end of the year. “We expect to open the remaining negotiation chapters by the end of the year. The government, together with Parliament, is working to expedite the consideration and adoption of the necessary draft laws within the framework of our commitments regarding European integration and the Ukraine Facility,” Koretskyi noted.
According to him, to achieve this, the government and the Verkhovna Rada must accelerate work on the draft laws necessary to fulfill Ukraine’s commitments to the EU. This involves not only formal decisions but also amendments to Ukrainian legislation in accordance with EU rules. Funding was discussed separately during the conversation. Koretsky emphasized that Ukraine needs to start preparing decisions now that will help secure the necessary funds for the budget and defense in 2026–2027. The Prime Minister also thanked Marta Kos for her support of Ukraine’s European course.
What Are Negotiation Clusters?
Negotiations on EU accession do not proceed in a single large phase. The candidate country’s legislation is divided into thematic blocks, known as clusters. A cluster is a group of interrelated areas of European legislation that a country must gradually bring into line with EU rules. Once the necessary conditions and reforms are met, the relevant negotiation clusters can be opened and moved forward.
In total, Ukraine must go through six main clusters.
The first is “Fundamentals of the EU Accession Process.” It covers fundamental issues, including the rule of law, the functioning of democratic institutions, and the functioning of the state.
The second is “Internal Market.” This covers trade rules, competition, the movement of goods, services, and capital, and other conditions for the functioning of the EU’s single market.
The third cluster is “Competitiveness and Inclusive Development.” It concerns economic policy, the digital sector, entrepreneurship, taxation, and other areas that influence economic development.
The fourth is “Green Agenda and Sustainable Connectivity.” It covers issues related to the environment, climate, energy, and transportation.
The fifth cluster is titled “Resources, Agriculture, and Cohesion Policy.” It addresses agricultural policy, resource use, and regional development.
The sixth is “External Relations.” Within this framework, Ukraine must align its foreign policy and trade rules with the European Union’s approaches.
For Ukraine, the opening of these clusters is a crucial step on the path to EU membership. That is why the government is currently focused on passing laws and implementing reforms necessary to advance the negotiations. At the same time, the opening of all negotiation chapters by the end of the year is an expectation on the part of Ukraine, not a guarantee of the automatic conclusion of accession negotiations. A significant amount of work still lies ahead, as after the negotiation chapters are opened, Ukraine must fulfill specific conditions and align its legislation with EU standards. Serhiy Koretskyi made this statement following a conversation with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos.
The Kremlin commented on the possibility of holding the next round of negotiations between Russia, the U.S., and Ukraine in September. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that, at present, the Russian side has no information regarding the possible dates for a new meeting between representatives of the three countries.
