EU talks viewed as big step for expansion

The European Union has agreed to open the first cluster of accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova on Monday, marking a major step in the bloc's enlargement.

Experts say such negotiations are typically lengthy and complex, and that the opening of talks does not mean the two countries will join the EU anytime soon.

European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Friday that all EU member states have agreed to open the first accession negotiations cluster on fundamentals with Ukraine and Moldova.

The talks would cover areas including the rule of law and democratic institutions, which are the backbone of the EU accession process.

"This is a recognition of the determination, courage and hard work shown by both countries in advancing reforms, even in the face of immense challenges," the statement said.

Ukraine and Moldova were granted EU candidate status in 2022. Ukraine's accession had faced opposition from some member states, particularly Hungary.

However, Hungary's new Prime Minister Peter Magyar, who took office last month, said the country had agreed to begin Ukraine's accession talks, though it does not support a fast-track procedure.

Gao Jian, director of the European Think Tank Research Center at Shanghai International Studies University, said that amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the EU's move goes beyond a mere technical step in the accession process and reflects broader geopolitical calculations.

"With the conflict dragging on, European integration is no longer the EU's sole motivation," Gao said.

"In essence, the launch of these talks reflects a broader geopolitical and values-based contest between the EU and Russia across the European continent. The potential accession of the two countries is widely seen as a significant strategic move that could shape the future of Europe's security architecture," he said.

The EU is attempting to address geopolitical security challenges through deeper political integration, aiming to redefine and reinforce its security through "closer political and economic alignment", he added.

"This suggests that the EU is shifting from a largely reactive security posture to a more proactive approach aimed at shaping the security environment through integration," Gao said.

However, such support remains primarily political in nature and falls short of a defense commitment, making it unlikely to provide Ukraine with direct military protection in the short term, he said.

Potential strains

Xiao Bin, a researcher at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said bringing Ukraine into the European framework while leaving Russia outside could further heighten tensions with Moscow and complicate future peace efforts between Russia and Ukraine.

The trajectory of the conflict, Ukraine's domestic political reforms and the EU's capacity to absorb new members will remain the main obstacles to Ukraine's eventual accession, Xiao said.

The accession of Ukraine and Moldova would also have profound implications for the global multilateral system, he said.

The EU's move could deepen its structural divide with Russia and increase the risk of bloc confrontation, he said.

It may also encourage European nations to place greater emphasis on "small multilateral" groupings, a trend that could undermine the healthy development of the United Nations-centered multilateral system, he added.

"Therefore, at a time of frequent geopolitical crises, any EU enlargement should fully consider the broader European security architecture and work to avoid a protracted regional confrontation," Xiao said.

liujianqiao@chinadaily.com.cn