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EU agrees to open new phase of membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova

The European Union has agreed to formally open the sixth cluster of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on 14 July. The step marks limited but symbolic progress in their EU membership bids, with four clusters still blocked for both countries.

European Union flags flying outside an EU building
European Union flags flying outside an EU buildingPhoto: Lajos Kristóf Kántor / Pexels
Euronews1 h ago
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EU member states approved the formal opening of the sixth accession cluster with Ukraine and Moldova on 14 July. The bloc's accession process is divided into clusters covering different policy areas that candidate countries must align with EU law.

While the step shows the process is moving forward, four of the ten total clusters remain blocked for both countries because of reservations from some member states. Ukraine fast-tracked its EU membership bid after Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, and Moldova followed a similar path.

Officials in Brussels say the move signals political will, though full membership could still take years. Enlargement is seen as part of the EU's broader strategy to sustain support for Ukraine against Russia.

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Source: Euronews
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This article is an AI-curated summary of the original story published by Euronews. The illustration is a stock photo by Lajos Kristóf Kántor from Pexels and is not from the original story.

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