On 15 June 2026, the EU Council held an accession conference with Ukraine, formally opening Cluster 1 (Fundamentals) in EU accession negotiations. Cypriot Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna, speaking for the rotating presidency, called it a 'milestone day' and stressed that enlargement remains merit-based, requiring continued reforms in rule of law, anti-corruption, and fundamental rights.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos highlighted that Ukraine achieved this progress while defending against Russian aggression, and urged national unity to sustain momentum. She called on the Council to open the remaining five clusters before summer. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka welcomed the decision as a 'Rubicon' and a security guarantee, noting that unanimity among 27 member states was achieved through dialogue, including on national minorities policy. On anti-corruption, Kachka cited over 1,000 cases opened by Ukraine's anti-corruption bureau since January 2025. Asked about potential future blockages (e.g., from Hungary), Kos and Raouna expressed optimism based on consensus-building and front-loading of technical work. On national minorities, Kachka confirmed a revised action plan fine-tuning existing policies, with implementation expected by end-2027 or 2028. The Commission will closely monitor progress. The opening of Cluster 1 marks the first formal step in the substantive negotiations following Ukraine's candidate status granted in June 2022 and the start of accession talks in December 2023. The move signals continued EU commitment to enlargement despite geopolitical tensions.
Stakeholders impacted include the Ukrainian government and society, which see the opening as a security guarantee and reform incentive; EU member states, especially neighbours, which may face economic and social adjustments; and EU institutions, which will bear the monitoring and technical assistance workload. The decision balances merit-based conditionality with political momentum, as Ukraine must sustain reforms while under wartime conditions.