EU opens 2 new accession clusters with Ukraine in step toward membership

The European Union opened accession negotiations with Ukraine on Tuesday on the “internal market” and “competitiveness and inclusive growth” clusters, marking another step toward the country’s EU membership.

The clusters cover the free movement of goods, services, workers and capital, competition, taxation, employment, education, digital transformation, industry and economic and monetary policy areas.

“We have today reached another milestone on Ukraine’s EU membership journey,” Irish Minister of State for European Affairs and Defense Thomas Byrne said, adding that Ireland’s EU presidency was committed to advancing Ukraine’s accession process.

The EU also set benchmarks for the provisional closure of chapters within the two clusters, saying progress in aligning with and implementing EU legislation and standards would be monitored throughout the negotiations.

The decision follows the opening of negotiations on the external relations cluster in July 2026.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine had taken another step toward EU membership. urging the bloc to open the remaining two accession negotiating clusters by year-end.

“I am deeply grateful to everyone who fights for Ukraine and works in the interests of our state, for its European future, and for Europe’s security. Together, we are a stronger Europe,” he wrote on the US social media platform X, thanking EU leaders and member states for their support.