The EU and Ukraine today took another important step in the accession process by opening Cluster 6 on external relations, which contains two negotiating chapters.
Cluster 6 concerns the alignment of membership candidates with the Union’s international, trade, and defense policy, the EU Council announced.
“Just a month after opening Cluster 1 (fundamentals) and two weeks after Ireland assumed the EU presidency, we have reached another milestone on Ukraine’s path to EU membership by opening a key negotiating cluster on external relations,” said Irish Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne.
Byrne said that the opening of the cluster is a testament to Ukraine’s commitment to move toward membership as quickly as possible.
“Enlargement, in these challenging times, is a strategic investment in peace and security, stability and prosperity for both the EU and Ukraine,” the Irish minister emphasized.
Cluster 6 contains Chapter 30, on external relations, and Chapter 31, on foreign, security, and defense policy.
The EU has also set criteria for the future provisional closure of these chapters.
Later today, Moldova will also open Cluster 6, while Montenegro will provisionally close two and Albania three negotiating chapters.
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