Accession of Ukraine to the European Union

EU leaders on Thursday agreed to open talks with Bosnia on joining the bloc, though negotiations will only begin in earnest once the Balkan country has passed more key reforms.

"Congratulations! Your place is in our European family. Today's decision is a key step forward on your EU path," European Council head Charles Michel wrote on X, as leaders met at a Brussels summit.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized the critical importance of initiating genuine negotiations for Ukraine's accession to the European Union (EU) without delay, signaling a pivotal moment for both his nation and the continent.

Rosen Zhelyazkov, the Speaker of Bulgaria's National Assembly, conveyed Bulgaria's staunch backing for Ukraine's accession to the European Union during a speech delivered to members of the Verkhovna Rada in Kyiv. Zhelyazkov emphasized that Ukraine's integration into the EU is not only a geopolitical choice but also a shared aspiration that Bulgaria fervently advocates.

Leaders agree an additional €50 billion support package for Ukraine under the EU budget

European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to start accession talks with EU candidates Ukraine and Moldova while granting formal candidate status to Georgia.

Accession talks themselves could take a decade or longer. Below is a list of countries hoping to one day become members of the EU, and their formal status:

COUNTRIES WITH CANDIDATE COUNTRY STATUS

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban recently made headlines by asserting Hungary's potential to intervene in Ukraine's EU accession process, should the need arise. Orban referred to the EU's decision as merely a symbolic gesture, implying that Hungary retains the power to halt Ukraine's progress into the EU.

About three hours after a deadlock in the EU leaders' discussion on Ukraine's accession, the German chancellor suggested the Hungarian prime minister to leave the hall and drink coffee.

"The European Union is ready to conclude the initial phase of the accession negotiations for North Macedonia as soon as the country fulfills its commitment to accept the constitutional amendments," stated the adopted conclusions on enlargement, Ukraine and reforms from the EU summit.

The European Council calls on North Macedonia to accelerate the completion of these changes.

According to Index, it is about the fact that today in Brussels, a decision is being made on Ukraine's negotiations for EU membership, which is strongly opposed by one member of the Union - Hungary.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday urged the bloc's 27 leaders to back massive financial aid for Ukraine and Kyiv's ambitions for membership talks, ahead of a crunch summit.

"We must give Ukraine what it needs to be strong today. So it can be stronger tomorrow at the table when it is negotiating a long lasting and just peace," the European Commission president told MEPs.