Netherlands clears EU’s final hurdle for Ukraine, Moldova accession talks to formally start

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20-06-2024 (updated: 20-06-2024 )

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[Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal]

The Dutch parliament on Thursday (20 June) voted in favour of greenlighting the negotiation frameworks for Ukraine and Moldova, clearing the last hurdle for the EU to formally open accession talks with both countries next week.

Though the new far-right Dutch government, led by Prime Minister Dick Schoof, had said they would support both countries to proceed, the decision required formal parliamentary approval.

The step clears the final hurdle after EU member states last Friday (14 June), following weeks of wrangling, agreed in principle on the negotiating frameworks for the accession negotiations of Ukraine and Moldova.

The first Intergovernmental Conferences (IGC) for both Ukraine and Moldova are scheduled for next Tuesday (25 June), when European affairs ministers meet in Luxembourg.

An intergovernmental conference with an EU candidate country marks the formal start of accession talks, a process that usually takes years.

[Edited by Rajnish Singh]