Ukraine's accession to EU: PM Shmyhal hopes negotiations will start in first half of 2024

He said this in an interview with Euractiv.

“We are waiting and wishing to have approval by the European Council at their closest meeting [this week], and believe we can begin accession negotiations in the first half of this year,” Shmyhal said.

The publication recalls that last week, the European Commission sent a draft negotiation framework for the accession negotiations between Ukraine and Moldova to EU member states.

“We hope that our European partners will approve it without any additional amendments as the European Commission proposes. President Charles Michel named 2030 a possible target year for further EU enlargement, but we will do our best for Ukraine so that it could happen earlier, immediately after our victory,” the Ukrainian Prime Minister emphasized.

He also added that Ukraine can complete its "homework" very quickly. “I believe that it will take us not more than two years, " noted the Prime Minister of Ukraine.

EU leaders will consider the next steps toward Ukraine's accession to the EU at this week's summit on March 21-22. 

• On February 21, 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.

• Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna said that Ukraine expects the presentation of the negotiation framework for EU accession no later than March 12.