European Council President Charles Michel indicated that the European Union could launch formal negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the bloc by the end of June, a timeline he floated during his remarks at a Brussels press conference following the first day of the EU summit. The statement signals a potential acceleration in the EU’s long process of seeking closer integration with Kyiv and, more broadly, with the nations on its eastern and southeastern flank. Michel’s comments came as EU leaders gather to map out a comprehensive agenda that looks well beyond immediate crises, aiming to balance security commitments with the bloc’s enlargement ambitions.
In the same briefing, Michel expressed a cautious optimism that the first intergovernmental meeting between the European Union and Ukraine could occur under the Belgian presidency. He underscored that the precise scheduling would depend on the progression of talks and the readiness of both sides to proceed through the complex steps of accession negotiations. The Belgian presidency, which would lead the process, could see a critical moment by late June if negotiations advance as hoped. The reference to a forthcoming intergovernmental meeting comes after a day of discussions that stressed the importance of steadier partnerships with neighbors while keeping to the EU’s defined accession framework, as reported by TASS and echoed by multiple briefings from Brussels.
The summit statement did not provide a fixed launch date for accession talks with Ukraine or Moldova, instead emphasizing the European Council’s focus on monitoring and encouraging progress along the established path toward greater European integration. Leaders did, however, reaffirm their willingness to acknowledge advancements and to support reform efforts in candidate countries. The EU has long maintained that genuine progress on governance, rule of law, economic reform, and civic resilience is essential before formal negotiations begin, and officials stressed that actions speak louder than promises as the bloc gauges readiness on multiple fronts.
The two-day EU summit in Brussels opened with a broad-ranging program that includes strengthening the European Union’s defense capacity, addressing ongoing crises in Ukraine and the Middle East, and coordinating responses to security and economic challenges across the bloc. Discussions spanned the need for reliable defense planning, enhanced deterrence, and the ability to coordinate vast logistics in times of crisis. EU leaders also scrutinized the financial and political implications of these policy shifts, considering how these measures align with the bloc’s broader strategic objectives and the expectations of member states facing varied security environments.
On the third day, it was reported that the heads of state and government agreed to initiate membership negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, signaling a notable expansion of the Union’s horizon for enlargement. This development reflects a consensus within the EU that open, merit-based accession processes should continue, even as the EU grapples with domestic reforms and external pressures. Officials noted that Bosnia and Herzegovina would join a list of candidate and potential candidate countries that the bloc is prepared to engage with more deeply as part of a broader stabilization and integration strategy for Southeast Europe. The decision aligns with years of diplomatic effort and ongoing reform commitments from BiH and its international partners.
Earlier comments from European leaders suggested a private, ongoing effort among policymakers to advance Ukraine’s path to EU membership. While details remained private, the sense among observers is that discussions behind closed doors are aimed at translating political will into concrete steps that can withstand scrutiny during public sessions. As the EU continues this delicate balancing act, officials remind observers that accession talks are a rigorous and multi-year process that requires sustained reform, transparent governance, and broad consensus among member states. In this context, the Brussels briefing served as a signal that the bloc intends to maintain an ambitious timetable while adhering to the scrutiny and standards that define EU enlargement. Attribution: TASS.