Ukraine's EU accession should be merit-based like for other candidates - European Commission

BRUSSELS. March 18 (Interfax) - The process of joining the European Union is based on the candidate country's accomplishments in accordance with the EU rules, and this applies to Ukraine, European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier said.

"It is a merit-based process. Enlargement will remain a priority for this Commission. When it comes to Ukraine, we opened the accession in June 2024. It was a recognition of Ukraine's determination to advance on its EU path and to implement transformative reforms," Mercier told a briefing in Brussels on Tuesday.

"Until now, Ukraine has been making steady progress towards EU accession," he said. The relationship is now undergoing a bilateral screening that will last until the end of the year. A number of conditions must be met and the European Commission is expecting a swift opening in 2025 of the first cluster of negotiation, a fundamental one.

"We need all the member states to agree," Mercier said. When asked to elaborate, he said that the opening of negotiation clusters in this particular instance was being hindered by the EU rule of unanimity among all 27 members.

It was reported that Hungary is blocking Ukraine's EU accession plans.