What Ukraine’s EU Candidacy Means, and What’s Ahead

Ukraine took a further step on Dec. 14 toward becoming a member of the European Union as the bloc’s executive arm agreed to formally open accession talks. Joining the EU would solidify Ukraine’s orientation toward the West, which Russian President Vladimir Putin has sought to thwart by force. Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbor spurred an effort by European nations to forge ties with Ukraine at a hastened pace. But the road to EU accession can be lengthy, with obstacles along the way, including a lack of unity among its members about enlargement.

A country negotiating EU membership has the prospect of joining the bloc once it meets certain political and economic criteria and carries out reforms to align its laws and standards to those of the EU. In Ukraine’s case, the EU set seven milestones in areas as varied as judicial reforms and media freedoms. Kyiv is still working to complete three of those steps, which include “anti-oligarch” measures and enacting legislation on minority rights. Now that EU leaders have agreed to open talks, the bloc’s executive will start preparations for future negotiations, including by screening Ukraine’s legislation against the EU’s. Once talks start, the parties have to work through 35 so-called chapters covering everything from the environment to financial markets to ensure Ukraine’s legislation and legal standards are aligned with the EU’s.