The breakthrough follows the removal of long-standing vetoes previously held by Hungary. With the political landscape shifted, delegations from Kyiv and Chișinău are now navigating the rigorous bureaucratic framework required for full membership. European commissioner for enlargement Marta Kos confirmed an aggressive timeline, aiming to open the remaining five clusters by July. Work is already underway on the draft accession treaty for Ukraine, mirroring the progress currently being made for Montenegro.
Leadership in Brussels framed the move as a necessity for regional stability. In a joint statement, Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Council president António Costa emphasized that enlargement remains a strategic choice. For both countries, the start of formal screening represents the most significant advancement since they first applied for candidate status in the immediate aftermath of the 2022 Russian invasion.
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