The process of screening the compliance of Ukrainian legislation with EU standards has now reached halfway.
This was stated by the spokesperson for the European Commission Guillaume Mercier, reports Yevropeyska Pravda.
According to Mercier, the European Commission's screening report on Cluster 1 Fundamentals has already been submitted to the EU Council. The reports on clusters 2, Internal Market, and 6, External Relations, will be sent by the end of June, and the full screening is planned to be completed in autumn 2025 during the Danish EU presidency.
‘The Commission has ensured the fastest screening process in history - we are already more than halfway through and the process should be completed in autumn 2025,’ the EC spokesperson said.
Mercier noted that the EU Council now plays a key role in the decision to open negotiations on Cluster 1. According to the spokesperson, there is a consensus among the 26 EU member states to move forward with the opening of this negotiating bloc.
Commenting on the position of Hungary, which is blocking the opening of Cluster 1, the spokesperson said that the European Commission, together with Poland, which currently holds the EU presidency, is working to find solutions.
‘We also have to take into account the individual concerns of certain Member States. That is why the Commission is making personal efforts to facilitate a dialogue between Hungary and Ukraine on the situation of the Hungarian minority,’ Mercier explained.
He also confirmed that the screening of other clusters continues in parallel: ‘As of today, the screening of half of the clusters has been completed. Reports on the rest will be submitted to the EU Council by the end of 2025.’
‘Given the pace of the screening, the Commission believes that all clusters can be opened this year, subject to the approval of the Member States,’ the spokesperson added.
- Recently, the government of Viktor Orban sent letters to Hungarian citizens directly urging them to vote against Ukraine's membership in the EU in a consultative referendum. Orban himself defiantly voted against it.