EU countries have officially approved the initiation of membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova next week. The first Intergovernmental Conferences with both nations are

scheduled for Tuesday, June 25.

Ministers from the 27 Member States have adopted the negotiating frameworks for Moldova and Ukraine's accession to the EU. The initial Intergovernmental Conferences (IGC) will take place on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 25, during the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg.

This marks a significant milestone for Ukraine and Moldova as they embark on their journey to join the EU. Both countries applied for EU membership after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and were granted candidate status in June of the same year.

The announcement comes just days before Hungary, which has historically opposed the accession talks, assumes the six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union on July 1.