Framework for Ukraine's EU membership talks to be set once European Commission recommendations are met

MOSCOW. Dec 15 (Interfax) - The next step towards beginning negotiations on Ukraine's EU membership, such as the approval of the negotiations framework, will be made after the European Commission recommendations of November 8, 2023, are met.

This is said in the Ukraine and Moldova section of the European Council conclusions, published after the first day of the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday, Ukrainian media said.

"The European Council decides to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and with the Republic of Moldova. The European Council invites the Council to adopt the respective negotiating frameworks once the relevant steps set out in the respective Commission recommendations of 8 November 2023 are taken," the document said.

As reported, the European Commission recommends that the government bill enlarging the staff of the Ukrainian National Agency on Corruption Prevention to 1,000 be adopted. It also recommends abolishing clauses of the anti-corruption law that limit the Agency's capacity to verify assets verified earlier, in addition to property acquired by declarants before entering public service, without prejudice to national security rules amid the crisis.

Ukraine is recommended adopting a law to regulate lobbying by European standards and a law on the outstanding Venice Commission recommendations of June 2023 and October 2023 related to the Law on Ethnic Minorities, as well as Venice Commission recommendations related to laws on the state language, mass media and education.