Yulia Svyrydenko: Negotiations under Cluster 1: Fundamentals have been opened

Today, at the second EU–Ukraine Intergovernmental Conference in Luxembourg, negotiations under Cluster 1: Fundamentals were officially opened. This was announced by Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko.

According to the Prime Minister, Ukraine’s accession to the European Union has now gained a clear and defined trajectory.

“The opening of the cluster means we are moving from political discussions to the practical work of meeting the conditions for future membership through reforms in key areas,” the Prime Minister stressed.

Cluster 1 covers:

• the rule of law and judicial independence;
• anti-corruption;
• public administration reform;
• financial control;
• public procurement;
• statistics.

Progress in these areas strengthens state institutions and creates clear and predictable rules for businesses and investors.

Yulia Svyrydenko emphasised that Ukraine completed the screening process faster than any candidate country in the history of EU enlargement. The conditions for opening all negotiating clusters have already been fulfilled.

“Today, there is no longer any doubt about Ukraine’s future membership in the European Union. We are working to move toward full membership as quickly as possible – with all the rights, opportunities, and responsibilities that come with being an EU member state. I thank the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Cyprus Presidency, and all EU member states for their joint efforts and this historic decision,” the Prime Minister said.