The European Union will open membership talks with Ukraine on Tuesday (June 25), giving the country a political boost in the midst of its war against Russia's invasion. A long and tough road still lies ahead before it could join the bloc though.

Brussels

Ukraine and Moldova are beginning their extensive journey towards European Union membership. This path includes years of negotiations and a range of stringent criteria. The European Union recently approved a negotiation framework for Ukraine, setting the procedures required for the country to join.

To qualify, Ukraine and Moldova need to demonstrate the existence of stable institutions that uphold democracy, rule of law, and human rights, including the protection of minorities. Ukraine, however, faces significant challenges in this area, being ranked as the most corrupt nation in Europe by Transparency International. Additionally, Kyiv has been prompted by Brussels to improve its integration of the Hungarian minority.

Economically, Ukraine must show that it has a viable and functioning economy capable of coping with EU market forces. The country will also need to prove its ability to implement the EU's political, economic, and monetary obligations.

The war with Russia complicates Ukraine's EU aspirations even further, raising questions about whether the 27-member bloc will one day be prepared to welcome the war-affected nation. Despite these challenges, Ukraine's status as an agricultural powerhouse provides it with significant economic potential.

The membership process involves numerous institutional and legal reforms, pushing Ukraine and Moldova further away from Russian influence and closer to European Union acceptance.



Ukraine set for symbolic start of E.U. membership talks

It is a long process with no guarantee of succeeding. With Ukraine and Moldova embarking on the lengthy road to becoming EU members, they're in for years of negotiations. For Croatia, the last country to enter the EU, the process took eight years. But last week, Vladimir Zelensky said that Ukraine is ready. The European Union has approved a negotiation framework for Ukraine. We fought for this at multiple levels. This framework sets the format and procedures for our country to negotiate joining. Like the eight other countries applying for membership, Ukraine and Moldova must now prove they meet a number of criteria. First, politically, they must have stable institutions that guarantee democracy, rule of law and human rights, including the protection of minorities. And here, Ukraine faces an uphill battle. For it is ranked as the most corrupt nation in Europe, according to Transparency International. Brussels has also requested that Kyiv better integrate its Hungarian minority. The second challenge is economic. Ukraine must prove it has a viable and functioning economy with the capacity to cope with EU competition and market forces. And finally, the third component is proving that the nation is able to implement the political, economic and monetary obligations set by the Union. Already an arduous years-long process, the war in Ukraine further complicates membership. And begs the question whether each nation in the 27-member bloc will one day be ready to welcome the war-torn country. An agricultural powerhouse, Ukraine has much to offer the EU. But even if the war ends, reconstruction could also weigh heavy on its budget. Such questions and terms are a long way off though. For now, Moldova and Ukraine must begin the process of dozens of institutional and legal reforms. As they continue on their path away from Russian influence and towards acceptance in the European Union.

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