EU Council officially approves negotiation framework for Ukraine and Moldova's accession

The Belgian EU Presidency reported the information

“The EU Council adopted the general EU positions, including negotiating frameworks, for accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova,” the statement said.

This sets the stage for negotiations scheduled to commence on June 25th in Luxembourg: first with Ukraine at 3:30 p.m., followed by Moldova at 6:00 p.m.

Earlier, Moldovan President Maia Sandu announced that she had signed a decree to start negotiations on Moldova's accession to the EU on Friday, June 21.

“Becoming an EU member is our path to peace, prosperity, and a better life for all citizens.

Wishing our delegation every success as they officially launch negotiations in Luxembourg next week," Sandu wrote.

• Earlier, Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal officially confirmed that the European Commission had supported the start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU.
• On June 14, EU ambassadors agreed on a negotiation framework for Ukraine and Moldova accession to the bloc - the first intergovernmental conferences will take place on June 25.