European Commission sends Council first screening report within EU accession negotiations
The European Commission sent the first screening report Cluster 1 Fundamentals for Ukraine to the European Council for the further discussion with Member States.
The Commission provided relevant information in response to a request from Interfax-Ukraine. As reported, the EU accession negotiations are organized into 35 chapters, grouped into six clusters, which are opened one by one, taking into account the progress in their implementation by the candidate country. The report was sent to the Council on January 16.
"Presenting the screening report is the first step in the accession negotiations, where the Commission explains to a candidate their rights and obligations as a Member State (explanatory meetings) and in a second stage assesses where the candidate stands in terms of legal alignment and capacity to apply the acquis (bilateral meetings). Last week's screening report concerns Cluster 1 Fundamentals, which is at the heart of the accession negotiations. In line with the Negotiating Framework, it is opened first and closed last in the negotiations," it said.
The European Commission also that that the screening report will now be discussed with Member States in Council.
"Once the Council agrees that the opening benchmarks for this cluster are fulfilled, and the countries have submitted their negotiation position and the EU has agreed on its negotiating position, an IGC (Inter-Governmental Conference) is organized where both countries officially opening the Cluster in the negotiations," it said.
The Commission also noted that the Council acts by unanimity in matters of the accession negotiations.
It also said that Ukraine is now undergoing the bilateral screening process, which will continue until autumn 2025. Subject to Ukraine meeting all the conditions, the Commission looks forward to the opening of negotiations on clusters, starting with Cluster 1 Fundamentals, as soon as possible in 2025.
According to the statement, enlargement is and will remain a priority for this Commission.
"The EU opened accession negotiations with Ukraine in June 2024. This is a recognition of the Ukraine's determination to advance in its EU accession and implement transformative reforms despite Russia's ongoing war of aggression. Ukraine is making steady progress toward EU accession," it said.
As reported on January 14, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said that in 2025 it will be possible to open the first and thirty-first clusters with Ukraine in the negotiations on membership in the European Union.
According to Kos, when talking with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he asked to open all the provisions of the negotiation process this year: they say, "we are willing and we will do this."
"When I heard this for the second time, I said it's not only about the opening, it's mainly about the closing. Ukraine is doing really good reforms, but they have to be sustainable reforms. We are supporting them. Coming back to what it is possible to do with them [with Ukraine], it is possible that we will open this year the first cluster of fundamentals and even the 31st – this is the foreign policy. If they do what they have promised, then we will be able to have a successful procedure in the Council," Kos said.