Brussels, 12 June 2026, dtt-net.com – Governments of 27 EU members agreed today to make first major step for Ukraine and Moldova in their European bloc promised membership path, by agreeing to open first negotiating chapters in accession talks on Monday (June 15).
“All member states agreed to open the first accession negotiations cluster with Ukraine and Moldova. At the first Intergovernmental Conference on Monday, we will open the cluster on fundamentals; the backbone of the accession process,” said the President of the European Council Antonio Costa and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, in a joint media statement announcing the decision to open Cluster 1, known as ‘Fundamentals’.
The cluster is composed of Chapter 23 – judiciary and fundamental rights, Chapter 24 – justice, freedom and security, the functioning of democratic institutions, public administration reform and economic criteria, Chapter 5 – public procurement, Chapter 18 – statistics, and Chapter 32 – financial control.
The five chapters of the cluster are opened first and closed last in the EU membership process.
“This is a recognition of the determination, courage and hard work shown by both countries in advancing reforms, even in the face of immense challenges. And a signal that the EU’s offer of peace, stability and opportunity is unmatchable,” the two top EU officials said as Ukraine continues its fight for freedom following the ongoing military aggression by Russia since 2022.
“Enlargement is a strategic choice. By bringing our nations closer together, we strengthen peace, security and prosperity across our continent. In a world marked by growing uncertainty, a larger European Union is in our common interest. Enlargement remains one of the EU’s greatest success stories and our best investment in our shared future,” they added.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy applauded the move by EU governments.
“I thank all our people who are fighting for Ukraine, working for our state, and helping defend our national interests. And I thank all our partners in the EU and every leader personally for this strong step for the sake of Europe,” he said in a media statement.
“Ukraine is defending itself and, in doing so, all of Europe – the idea that European nations can live united, free, and in peace. As we have said, Ukraine is doing what is necessary, and it is important that the EU is also keeping its word. The opening of the first cluster is significant political and moral support for our state and our people. We also thank Europe for all its other support – support that shows true leadership and helps us protect lives,” he added, while congratulating Moldova too over EU move.
Moldova’s President Maia Sandu reacted too, welcoming the EU decision.
“I welcome the decision to open the first cluster of accession negotiations on Monday. Moldova is ready to open all of them — we’ve done the work, and we’ll keep delivering reforms,” she wrote through X.
The decision over Ukraine and Moldova comes as earlier this week, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg came up with a proposal trying to convince other 22 members to exempt new members from voting rights in enlargement, foreign policy and defence, and budget.
Of seven candidate countries, Montenegro if the frontrunner in EU accession talks, as it has opened all 35 negotiating chapters and closed 14 so far. Two chapters are automatically opened and closed without negotiations.
Its government expects to close remaining 19 negotiating chapters later this year and the country become member of the EU in 2028.
Governments of 27 EU member states last month established a working group tasked to draft accession treaty for Montenegro and if all member countries agree with the proposal of five, Podgorica will be the first to be put in the position to ‘take or leave’ accession treaty with new rule offered.
Albania is the second most advances country in EU accession negotiations, after Montenegro.
Albania has opened all negotiating chapters since the first ones in October 2024, and its government hopes for EU membership by 2030.
Serbia has launched EU accession negotiations in 2015, and has opened 18 negotiating chapters, of which 2 are already provisionally closed.
In December 2021 Serbia opened a Cluster 4 of four chapters – already opened and which need to be closed – in accession talks. Since then, it has not opened nor closed any chapters/clusters in the negotiation process for membership in the European bloc. Serbia’s negotiations are mainly stalled because of refusal to join EU sanctions against Russia and ongoing lack of progress at EU-mediated talks with Kosovo, on top of insufficient reforms.
North Macedonia’s has not opened any negotiating chapters so far, as it is refusing to include Bulgarian community in the Constitution, a condition imposed by Bulgaria and embraced by other 26 EU members in 2022.
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) was granted EU candidate status in December 2022 but has not opened any chapters because of insufficient progress with Brussels-set reforms as consequence of political disputes between Bosniak, Serb and Croat parties.
Kosovo is a potential candidate country for EU accession. It has applied for membership in December 2022, but the application is not being treated so far by member states, as five countries (Greece, Cyprus, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain) do not recognize its statehood.
