Ukraine, Moldova might start talks on joining EU after meeting all preconditions, after compliance with criteria assessed - EU commissioner

BRUSSELS. June 17 (Interfax) - Ukraine and Moldova could enter into negotiations on joining the European Union once they implement all conditions and after their compliance with all criteria are assessed, European Union Neighborhood and Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said.

"Starting accession negotiations is further down the line," Varhelyi said at a press conference in Brussels on Friday.

The decision on recommending that Ukraine be granted EU candidate country status announced on Friday is only the initial one in the entire accession process, and accession negotiations are ahead, he said.

"Today is not about that decision. Once conditions are met, then we will have to come back and reflect on it - whether we have all the criteria met to make the next step, which is going to be the start of accession negotiations. But that is another set of decisions to be made. That is not for today," he said.