EU holds intergovernmental conferences with Ukraine and Moldova

On Monday, the European Union held intergovernmental conferences with Ukraine and Moldova in Luxembourg. This event marks the official opening of the first negotiation cluster, which covers fundamental issues for accession. Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European Affairs, announced that this milestone follows intensive work during the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU, which began in January. The presidency coordinated the necessary consultations to ensure compliance with enlargement methodology. According to Raouna, the opening of this cluster moves both candidate countries from political vision to the concrete implementation phase of EU integration. The process reflects the EU's strategic commitment to enlargement amid current geopolitical instability. The presidency emphasized its ongoing dedication to the principle of meritocracy for all candidate nations. This development serves as a significant step in the integration process for both Eastern European states.