Today, June 15, 2026, in Luxembourg, during the second Intergovernmental Conference between Ukraine and the European Union, the negotiating Cluster 1 "Fundamentals" was officially opened. Ukraine also officially accepted the benchmarks (conditions) set by the European Union for further advancement of the negotiations.
The Ukrainian delegation included representatives of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Office of the President of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, the National Commission for the Control of Statistics of Ukraine, the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, and others. During the opening, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered an online address.
Cluster 1 is crucial throughout the entire negotiation process for Ukraine's accession to the EU, as it is opened first and closed last, and the fulfillment of interim benchmarks under chapters 23 "Judiciary and fundamental rights" and 24 "Justice, freedom and security" is necessary for the temporary closure of all other negotiation chapters.
Chief Negotiator, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Taras Kachka called the opening of Cluster 1 a historic moment for both Ukraine and the European Union.
"Today we officially opened the first Cluster, and at the same time, a new chapter in the history we are writing together. The European Union has sent a powerful signal about the inevitability of our common future," he emphasized.
Taras Kachka expressed gratitude to the EU member states and institutions for their support for Ukraine, and also noted the leadership and hard work of the Republic of Cyprus during its presidency of the Council of the EU, thanks to which it was possible to maintain the dynamics of the negotiation process and achieve today's result.
Ukraine confirmed that it accepts the acquis of the European Union (EU law) in its current version and as it develops by the time of the country's accession to the EU. Ukraine also confirmed that it does not request any special conditions and exceptions or transitional periods within Cluster 1. The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that our state remains committed to a merit-based approach, according to which progress in negotiations should be determined by the results of implemented reforms.
Despite the full-scale war, Ukraine continues to implement deep democratic transformations. To open the Cluster "Fundamentals of the EU Accession Process", the Government of Ukraine has adopted and is implementing three strategic roadmaps - in the areas of the rule of law, public administration reform and the functioning of democratic institutions, as well as an Action Plan on the protection of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities (communities).
During the conference, Ukraine confirmed its commitment to implementing further reforms in the following areas:
- the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary;
- fighting corruption and strengthening independent anti-corruption institutions;
- functioning of democratic institutions and involvement of civil society;
- public administration reform;
- protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms;
- justice, freedom and security;
- development of a market economy and ensuring macro-financial stability;
- transparency of public procurement;
- statistics and financial control.
According to Taras Kachka, Cluster 1 is not just a technical requirement of the negotiation process, but a comprehensive program for the modernization of the Ukrainian state.
"These reforms are needed primarily by Ukraine and its citizens. They strengthen the rule of law, improve the quality of public administration, reduce the risks of corruption and distrust, make the state more predictable for citizens, reliable for partners, and understandable for business, which is also important in the process of rebuilding the country and attracting investment," he emphasized.
The Ukrainian side also announced its intention to submit targeted proposals for accelerated sectoral integration into individual EU policies and programs so that the progress of reforms is accompanied by a gradual expansion of Ukraine's participation in European mechanisms.
In conclusion, Taras Kachka emphasized Ukraine's commitment to meeting all defined benchmarks in the shortest possible time.
The Deputy Prime Minister also emphasized that Ukraine expects the opening of all other negotiation clusters without delay this summer, as all necessary prerequisites have been met, which was confirmed by the European Commission.
Deputy Minister for European Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Marilena Rauna, emphasized that the future of Ukraine lies in the European Union, and noted that the EU will continue to unconditionally support Ukraine on its path to achieving a just peace and advancing towards membership in the European Union.
For her part, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos noted that despite full-scale Russian aggression, significant human and economic losses, and the destruction of cultural heritage, Ukraine has maintained its unwavering commitment to the European course and continued to implement the necessary reforms. According to her, the progress made by Ukraine on the path to opening Cluster 1 demonstrates the maturity of its institutions and commitment to the principles underlying the entire European Union.