President's Office expects swift opening of first EU accession negotiating clusters
The Office of the President of Ukraine believes it is realistic to anticipate that the first negotiating clusters for Ukraine's accession to the European Union will be opened soon and currently sees no legal, bureaucratic or political obstacles to prevent this.
Source: Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the President's Office, in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine, as reported by European Pravda
Details: Zhovkva was asked whether he thinks it is realistic for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to expect that all six EU negotiating clusters could be opened in the near future.
"These possibilities are completely realistic. There are just a number of technical steps that now need to be completed. And the role of the Cypriot presidency is important here," Zhovkva said, praising the "very active position" of the president of Cyprus.
"The position of the European Commission and member states is also important. At the moment, we do not see any negativity anywhere. There is a bureaucratic process, and it has to run its course," he added.
Zhovkva noted that Ukraine has done all its "homework" and prepared for the next necessary steps regarding both the key Fundamentals cluster and the issue of national minorities, which is currently the subject of consultations with Hungary.
"So I don't see any legal, bureaucratic or, I very much hope, political obstacles to prevent this from happening very, very quickly," he concluded.
According to Zhovkva, Hungary and Slovakia, like Czechia, will not block the launch of negotiations.
Background: Zhovkva also said he is not aware of any tension with the EU over alleged delays to reforms or discussions about Ukraine's rapid accession.
Read more: Who is the new Hungary? Why Ukraine's EU accession talks are still stalling and what comes next
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