On 8 June 2026, a public discussion in Kyiv titled “Ukraine’s Accession: How to Deliver Europe’s Next Enlargement” brought together European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Korniyenko, and EU enlargement expert Gerald Knaus, moderated by EU Ambassador Katarína Mathernová. The event, organised by the European Policy Institute in Kyiv (EPIK) and the Ukraine2EU programme, focused on the concrete steps needed to sustain momentum as the EU prepares to open Cluster 1 on Fundamentals with Ukraine in mid-June 2026.
Commissioner Kos delivered the keynote speech, stating that “enlargement is not about setting dates, but about reforms” and that “the coming months will be decisive.” She emphasised that European integration is a national project requiring a national effort, and that Ukraine belongs to Europe. Kos’s remarks come as the EU is set to open Cluster 1 on Fundamentals, marking a shift from aspirational goals to implementation and delivery.
opening all negotiating clusters. He noted that thanks to a frontloading approach, Ukraine has already completed a significant share of preparatory work and must now finalise this stage to move to full-scale negotiations. Kachka stressed that the rule of law is the foundation of EU accession and that tools such as the EU Enlargement Package and the Interim Benchmark Assessment Report (IBAR) will be crucial to evaluate Ukraine’s readiness.
Deputy Chairman Korniyenko highlighted the need for the Verkhovna Rada to adapt its internal procedures to handle the unprecedented volume of EU-related legislation. He called for a clear timeline for the accession process to sustain public support for reforms and confidence in the irreversibility of Ukraine’s European course.
Gerald Knaus commented on the mutual security dependency between Ukraine and Europe, noting that Ukraine now contributes as much to European security as Europeans contribute to Ukraine through budget and military support.
EPIK Director Matteo Mecacci opened the event by praising Ukraine’s resilience and determination under pressure, expressing confidence that Ukraine can surprise Europe once again by delivering reforms and proving that accession is a practical route to prosperity and security.
The discussion underscored that Ukraine’s accession is reshaping the enlargement conversation, returning it to the centre of Europe’s political agenda as a strategic investment in a stronger, more secure continent. No prior coverage of this event exists in recent months.
Stakeholder impacts - EU institutions: The opening of Cluster 1 on Fundamentals will require the European Commission to intensify monitoring and support for Ukraine’s rule-of-law reforms, potentially stretching administrative resources. The process also sets a precedent for future enlargements, reinforcing the EU’s strategic commitment to Eastern Europe. - Ukrainian government and parliament: The government faces pressure to sustain reform momentum while managing wartime conditions. Parliament must overhaul legislative procedures to handle the volume of EU acquis, a significant administrative burden that could slow other domestic priorities. - Ukrainian civil society and public: Sustained public support for reforms is critical; a clear accession timeline could maintain confidence, but any delays risk disillusionment. Civil society organisations, praised by Kos, will continue to play a key role in monitoring and advocating reforms. - EU member states: The accession process will require member states to agree on negotiating frameworks and eventual membership terms, potentially reopening debates on EU budget, institutional reform, and enlargement policy. The mutual security dependency highlighted by Knaus may influence member states’ willingness to accelerate negotiations.
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