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EU Urges Ukraine to Speed Up Reforms for Accession
Confirmed
In Short: The European Union has called on Ukraine to accelerate its rule of law reforms to meet its goal of joining the bloc by 2028.
The European Union has urged Ukraine to speed up its rule of law reforms to meet its goal of joining the bloc by 2028, according to an EU enlargement report presented on Tuesday. The report, adopted by a large majority with 460 votes in favor, 136 against, and 59 abstentions, highlights the need for continued progress in reinforcing the independence, integrity, professionalism, and efficiency of the judiciary, prosecution, and law enforcement sectors, as well as the fight against organized crime.
Days after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen proclaimed, “Ukraine is one of us, and we want them in.” However, the EU is now emphasizing the need for Ukraine to accept that the accession process will not be short-circuited for any country, according to the Centre for European Reform.
The report notes that recent negative trends, including pressure on specialized anti-corruption agencies and civil society, must be decisively reversed. Ukraine’s independence is central to its post-Euromaidan reforms and EU accession, as highlighted by Euromaidanpress. NABU and SAPO, independent anti-corruption agencies, have rejected allegations and denied taking files or seeking immunity, calling these actions a continuation of a systemic attack on independent agencies.
The EU enlargement report also emphasizes the need for Ukraine to urgently and significantly step up the pace of rule of law reforms. Meeting key requirements in this area by the first half of 2027 is necessary before negotiations in individual policy areas can be provisionally concluded, according to a document obtained by POLITICO. The report contains repeated criticisms, particularly regarding the lack of progress on the rule of law and anti-corruption efforts.
The EU is championing Ukraine's future membership louder than ever, but the report makes clear that the country must get serious about the rule of law. Before Ukraine closes all chapters, it will have to get sign-off on some rule of law reforms, classified as 'interim benchmarks,' according to Kyivindependent. The 109-page report underscores the importance of these reforms for Ukraine’s accession process.
On June 15, 2026, Ukraine and the EU finally launched formal negotiations on the first of the six ‘clusters’ that make up the acquis communautaire – the body of EU laws and rules with which candidate countries must comply before they can join the Union. The clusters are lists of reforms across 33 chapters that Kyiv must carry out to align with the bloc, as noted by Kyivindependent.
The European Commission is preparing a more cautious roadmap for Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations, setting out limited targets for progress in 2027 while avoiding any commitment to a membership date. The roadmap, obtained by POLITICO, calls on Kyiv to ‘urgently and significantly step up the pace of the rule of law reforms.’ This cautious approach reflects the EU’s desire to ensure that Ukraine meets the necessary benchmarks before proceeding with full membership.
The European Parliament’s votes on annual accession reports for Ukraine, Moldova, and Serbia have highlighted a growing two-speed reality in EU enlargement policy. Ukraine and Moldova are increasingly framed as strategic-accession cases on the EU’s eastern flank, while Serbia faces sharper doubts over democracy, alignment, and geopolitical direction, according to Eutoday.
What this adds
The report adds that Ukraine’s accession process is now seen through a broader lens, including its strategic importance to the EU’s eastern flank and efforts to limit Russian influence.
What's confirmed
- The European Union has urged Ukraine to speed up its rule of law reforms to meet its goal of joining the bloc by 2028, according to an EU enlargement report presented on Tuesday. The report, adopted by a large majority with 460 votes in favor, 136 against, and 59 abstentions, highlights the need for continued progress in reinforcing the independence, integrity, professionalism, and efficiency of the judiciary, prosecution, and law enforcement sectors, as well as the fight against organized crime.
- Days after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen proclaimed, “Ukraine is one of us, and we want them in.” However, the EU is now emphasizing the need for Ukraine to accept that the accession process will not be short-circuited for any country, according to the Centre for European Reform.
- The report notes that recent negative trends, including pressure on specialized anti-corruption agencies and civil society, must be decisively reversed. Ukraine’s independence is central to its post-Euromaidan reforms and EU accession, as highlighted by Euromaidanpress. NABU and SAPO, independent anti-corruption agencies, have rejected allegations and denied taking files or seeking immunity, calling these actions a continuation of a systemic attack on independent agencies.
- The EU enlargement report also emphasizes the need for Ukraine to urgently and significantly step up the pace of rule of law reforms. Meeting key requirements in this area by the first half of 2027 is necessary before negotiations in individual policy areas can be provisionally concluded, according to a document obtained by POLITICO. The report contains repeated criticisms, particularly regarding the lack of progress on the rule of law and anti-corruption efforts.
- The EU is championing Ukraine's future membership louder than ever, but the report makes clear that the country must get serious about the rule of law. Before Ukraine closes all chapters, it will have to get sign-off on some rule of law reforms, classified as 'interim benchmarks,' according to Kyivindependent. The 109-page report underscores the importance of these reforms for Ukraine’s accession process.
- On June 15, 2026, Ukraine and the EU finally launched formal negotiations on the first of the six ‘clusters’ that make up the acquis communautaire – the body of EU laws and rules with which candidate countries must comply before they can join the Union. The clusters are lists of reforms across 33 chapters that Kyiv must carry out to align with the bloc, as noted by Kyivindependent.
- The European Commission is preparing a more cautious roadmap for Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations, setting out limited targets for progress in 2027 while avoiding any commitment to a membership date. The roadmap, obtained by POLITICO, calls on Kyiv to ‘urgently and significantly step up the pace of the rule of law reforms.’ This cautious approach reflects the EU’s desire to ensure that Ukraine meets the necessary benchmarks before proceeding with full membership.
- The European Parliament’s votes on annual accession reports for Ukraine, Moldova, and Serbia have highlighted a growing two-speed reality in EU enlargement policy. Ukraine and Moldova are increasingly framed as strategic-accession cases on the EU’s eastern flank, while Serbia faces sharper doubts over democracy, alignment, and geopolitical direction, according to Eutoday.
What's still developing
- Montenegro, which started accession talks in 2012, is seen as the frontrunner among the six countries of the Western Balkan region, with negotiations potentially concluding by the end of 2026 if reforms continue, while Albania could finish by the end of 2027.
- The Montreal summit launched work on a deeper partnership.
- Between 2000 and 2002, it took Lithuania, Latvia and Slovakia 34 months to begin and complete their accession negotiations.
- It also requires restoring the credibility of the current accession process.
- Ukraine and Moldova are no longer viewed only through the traditional enlargement lens of reforms, institutions and market alignment.
- For many MEPs, supporting their accession paths is part of a wider effort to stabilise Europe’s eastern flank and limit Russian influence.