EU begins developing negotiation framework for Ukraine’s accession

The European Commission has initiated work on a draft negotiating framework for Ukraine.

The document outlines the principles and procedures for accession talks with the EU, Ruryka reports, citing the spokesperson for the European Commission, Ana Pisonero, during a briefing in Brussels.

"We have already begun working on the negotiating framework project to submit it to the Council in the coming weeks," said the representative.

Pisonero also noted that the EC was assessing the recent measures approved by Ukraine's Parliament to give Ukraine the final green light, enabling it to effectively start accession negotiations with the EU.

Negotiating frameworks traditionally consist of four structural parts: guiding principles, substantive part, negotiating procedures, and appendices.

Despite their fairly constant and uniform structure, negotiating frameworks for each candidate country have their peculiarities.

What we know about the accession talks between Ukraine and the EU

As reported by Rubryka, on November 8, the European Commission officially recommended that EU member states begin negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union.

On the same day, the EC presented a report on Ukraine's progress in 2023 with further recommendations. Among them is the necessity to fulfill all Venice Commission recommendations on national minorities, including making certain amendments to legislation on the state language, media, and education.

Recently, the Office of the President stated that Ukraine has fulfilled over 90% of the European Commission's recommendations.

Media reports suggest that the European Commission may release an assessment of Ukraine's progress in Eurointegration reforms at the end of February. The actual start of accession negotiations depends on this assessment, though this date is not yet final.