Ukraine completes EU accession screening process (updated)
Ukraine and the European Union have completed the screening of Ukrainian legislation as part of EU accession negotiations, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos stated on X. She arrived in Ukraine for a three-day visit “to reaffirm the EU’s support for Ukraine’s European path and to mark the completion of the screening process for EU accession.”
Marta Kos during her working visit to Zakarpattia (Photo: Viktor Mykyta’s Telegram)“In the most difficult circumstances, Ukraine has completed the screening process of its entire legislation at record speed, laying the foundations for its European future,” Kos wrote on September 30, 2025.
She also emphasized the need to “maintain reform momentum.”
The EU accession negotiations for new member states are divided into 35 chapters. Thirty-three of these are grouped into six thematic clusters that are opened sequentially. Cluster 1, the “Fundamentals of the EU Accession Process,” opens first and closes last. Chapters 34 (“Institutions”) and 35 (“Other Issues”) are considered separately. For each of these chapters, the European Commission conducts an official screening to assess the compatibility of Ukrainian and European Union legislation.
Moreover, Kos said that Ukraine has met the conditions concerning the protection of national minority rights, a key prerequisite for launching EU accession talks.
Later, Kos told Ukrinform news agency that the technical process of preparing for accession may not be visible to the general public, but it is progressing faster than ever before.
“It is not true that the accession process is stopped. Not at all on the technical part, and I’m glad you emphasized that in your question. Ukraine and the EU are delivering as never before,” Kos said.
Kos also emphasized that, regardless of internal EU dynamics, Ukraine can continue to do its “homework” and increase its readiness for membership.
“The more reform we do now, the less will remain to be done once we open cluster by cluster… You don’t need to wait for Hungary to do the reforms. We are ready to accompany you in doing the reforms today, tomorrow, and until the end,” she added.
On September 22, Moldova also completed its EU integration screening process.
Hungary is currently blocking further progress in Ukraine’s accession talks. In February 2025, Hungary blockedі Ukraine’s progress by invoking the EU’s unanimity rule on enlargement decisions toward accession, citing as a formal pretext the rights of the Hungarian national minority in Zakarpattia.
The European Pravda news outlet noted that European Council President António Costa is leading efforts to allow EU states to open negotiation clusters with a qualified majority, rather than requiring unanimity. This could allow EU states to open negotiation clusters without Hungary’s veto.
The European Commission has indicated that it may consider opening the clusters without the consent of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, but the final decision rests with the EU member states.
Previously, ZMINA reportedі that Ukraine has completed 17 of 46 measures regarding fundamental rights in its roadmap for EU accession, with 27 other measures partially implemented. This chapter covers issues concerning the protection of personal data, the prevention of torture, the rights of national minorities, and anti-discrimination efforts.
