European Commission presents draft negotiation framework with Ukraine

The European Commission has presented a draft negotiation framework with Ukraine, which is now expected to be considered by the European Council.

The European Commission also discussed an oral report on Ukraine’s progress in implementing the additional steps outlined in the Enlargement Package on November 8, 2023. The oral report will be presented to the European Council.

What’s next:

The European Council will consider the negotiating framework. The next meeting is scheduled for March 21-22.

The presidency of the EU Council (currently Belgium until June 30, 2024) will present the agreed common EU position at the first intergovernmental conference with Ukraine. This will mark the start of direct accession negotiations.

Together with Ukraine, the European Commission presented a negotiating framework for Moldova. It also recommended opening accession talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Additional information.

The negotiating framework sets out the principles and approaches for accession negotiations with each candidate country. The draft framework consists of three parts: 1) the principles governing accession negotiations, 2) the substance of the negotiations, and 3) the negotiation procedure.

The goal of the negotiations is to ensure that Ukraine adopts EU law in full and ensures its full implementation.

More information is available on the European Commission’s portal.