Ukraine’s accession process is governed by two parallel evaluation frameworks: one tracking the progress of procedural negotiations, and another assessing the implementation of reforms. As of September 16, only two out of six negotiation clusters have been launched, and just seven of 33 negotiation chapters have opened. Ukraine originally aimed to conclude negotiations by the end of 2027 and achieve full membership before 2030; Zelenskyy has repeatedly called for the immediate opening of all remaining negotiation clusters in a single step.
Meanwhile, performance on reform implementation remains significantly lagging. Of the 10 priority reforms agreed upon in December last year, EU assessments showed a completion rate of only 15% by June, while third-party monitoring data indicated an even lower figure of 9%. Several core initiatives are severely behind schedule, with the mechanism for vetting prosecutors’ appointments and removals scoring zero. The Ukrainian parliament has directly postponed five anti-corruption bills—measures that, if enacted, could unlock €210 million in financial assistance. While procedural doors continue to open, substantive progress on hard-hitting judicial and anti-corruption reforms has stalled, widening the gap between the two assessment tracks.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1878031693118471/
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