EU Ambassador Mathernova names next steps for Ukraine's accession

The EU Ambassador to Ukraine, Katarina Mathernova, spoke about this in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.

She noted that the negotiations officially began yesterday, June 25. The next step will be the so-called bilateral screening.

Mathernova explained that the bilateral verification would thoroughly examine the acquis communautaire (EU legal system), consolidate EU laws, norms, and rules, and compare them with Ukrainian legislation to identify gaps and determine areas needing to be addressed.

According to her, it will take several months, and then the first chapters will be launched. Ukraine and the EU should systematically negotiate 35 chapters. The ambassador also noted that there are several thematic chapters, such as environment, financial control, financial markets, and a number of technical areas.

The EU ambassador added that there are categories within chapters 23 and 24, which concern the rule of law, democratic governance, combating corruption, etc. These areas do not have separate acquis communautaire attached to them, but they will be assessed according to European standards, and the governance system must function within the country.

Ukraine's accession to EU: background

On February 28, 2022, Ukraine applied to the European Union for immediate accession under a special procedure. The same year, on June 23, Ukraine was granted candidate status for EU membership.

In November 2023, the European Commission recommended that Ukraine begin negotiations on its accession to the EU.

On February 21, 2024, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the negotiation framework for Ukraine's accession to the EU would be ready in early summer, after the European elections.

This year, on June 25, Ukraine and Moldova began negotiations on EU accession. European Commission President von der Leyen congratulated the countries. 

"Today is a historic day when we are moving to actual, real negotiations with the European Union on Ukraine's membership. On February 28, 2022, a few days after the start of the full-scale invasion, we signed an application for membership," the President of Ukraine stressed.