EU accelerates the enlargement process: two new negotiation chapters opened for Ukraine and Moldova

European Council President Antonio Costa confirmed today that the European Union will proceed tomorrow with the official opening of new negotiation chapters with Ukraine, a crucial stage in the country’s EU membership process.

“I welcome the decision of the member states to open two new negotiation chapters with Ukraine and Moldova. We hope all the others will be opened as soon as possible,” Costa declared in a post on the social network X.

The 27 member states agreed to launch two new negotiation chapters with Moldova, which is progressing in parallel with Ukraine on the path toward membership.

Ukraine cleared the way for this step after its Parliament approved earlier today legislation on minority rights in education and language – a condition Hungary had set in order not to block the process.

On the same day, Tuesday, three other negotiation chapters are also expected to be closed with Montenegro, which is aiming for EU membership in 2028, together with Albania.

Despite these advances, candidate countries, including Ukraine, still have a long way to go to fulfill the “acquis communautaire”, meaning to adopt all EU rules – from the environment and agriculture to the common market.

In general, each candidate country must close at least 35 negotiation chapters before the 27 member states decide unanimously on its admission and ratify the decision in each country, either through the national parliament or through a referendum.