Von der Leyen hints Ukraine and Moldova are on separate EU accession paths after opening first cluster

After opening the first cluster in their EU accession negotiations, Ukraine and Moldova will each continue their European integration process at their own pace, implementing different reforms.

Source: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as reported by European Pravda's correspondent in Brussels

Details: Following the opening of the first negotiating cluster, Ukraine and Moldova will proceed towards EU membership at different speeds, von der Leyen said after the EU-Moldova Summit on 22 June.

"Once the first cluster is open, every candidate country is responsible for itself. Because they have to deliver reforms, and they have to deliver different reforms, depending on what candidate country we're talking about," von der Leyen said.

Responding to journalists' questions about the prospects for the opening of further clusters, she stressed that she was "only speaking about Moldova" since the press conference was focused on the EU-Moldova Summit.

Quote: "I think the merit-based process is much more for Moldova than the term 'as soon as possible'. Because 'as soon as possible' does not say anything. But a merits-based process tells you very clearly on the ground of our methodology that has been agreed by all 27 member states."

Details: Von der Leyen reiterated that if accession negotiations are based on a merit-based process, "it's much better for Moldova, because then they can deliver and we can follow our promise".

Background:

• Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said he opposes the opening of all clusters in Ukraine's EU accession negotiations and noted that his position is even stronger than that of his predecessor, Viktor Orbán.
• Magyar boasted earlier that he has "crossed out" the prospect of Ukraine's rapid accession from the EU summit conclusions.
• Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he hopes that the remaining five clusters in Ukraine's EU accession negotiations will be opened in the coming weeks.

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