The European Union and Ukraine officially opened negotiations on Tuesday, on the “External Relations” cluster of Ukraine’s EU accession process during an Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels, aiming to align Kyiv’s international, trade, and defense policies with European standards.
The milestone marks the second negotiating cluster opened for Ukraine, following the “Fundamentals” cluster on June 15. Thomas Byrne, Ireland’s Minister for European Affairs representing the EU Council presidency, praised the war-torn nation’s commitment to implementing reforms under challenging conditions, describing enlargement as a strategic investment in continental security.
Cluster 6 comprises two critical negotiating chapters: Chapter 30, which covers common commercial policy, humanitarian aid, and development cooperation, and Chapter 31, that deals with common foreign, security, and defense policy, requiring alignment with the EU’s restrictive measures.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed the development, stating that Kyiv has already achieved 99% alignment with the bloc’s foreign policy positions.
While the opening of Cluster 6 signals strong momentum, the timeline for the remaining four negotiating clusters, including the internal market and green agenda, remains uncertain as political hurdles persist within the European Council.
