Earlier reports suggested that one negotiating cluster could be opened in June, but that number may rise to two thanks to progress in technical consultations between Kyiv and Budapest on the rights of Ukraine’s Hungarian national minority.
The Council of the EU document seen by RFE/RL confirms plans to officially open accession talks with Ukraine in Luxembourg on June 15.
However, the Cyprus presidency of the Council of the EU warned that the plans are not final and “may be adjusted at the last minute.”
Ukraine has held EU candidate status since 2022. Opening each negotiating cluster requires unanimous support from all EU member states.
The European Commission will propose opening the first negotiating cluster on EU membership for Ukraine and Moldova at a General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on June 16, Euractiv reported on May 27.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed granting Ukraine the status of an “associate member” with expanded rights and security guarantees before full accession on May 21.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected the idea and called it unfair, stressing that Ukraine deserves full membership.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said all six negotiation clusters for Ukraine’s EU accession could be opened this summer on May 11.