Today, at the first Intergovernmental Conference, the European Union will open the first accession negotiation with Ukraine and Moldova with the cluster on fundamentals.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council António Costa said all Member States had agreed to open the first cluster with Ukraine and Moldova, and described it as “the backbone of the accession process”.

“It covers the core values and principles on which the EU is built, from the rule of law to strong democratic institutions,” the EU leaders stated. “This is a recognition of the determination, courage and hard work shown by both countries in advancing reforms, even in the face of immense challenges. And a signal that the EU’s offer of peace, stability and opportunity is unmatchable. Enlargement is a strategic choice”.

Von der Leyen and Costa added that enlargement remained “one of the EU’s greatest success stories” and the EU’s “best investment in our shared future”.