EU executive to endorse accession talks with Ukraine next month- report

The European commission is set to present an assessment of Ukraine’s progress in its rapprochement with the EU on 8 November, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing three officials familiar with the matter.

The assessment, a key stepping stone in the EU’s decision on whether to start accession talks with Kyiv, is expected to be positive, "possibly under additional conditions related to fighting graft and the rights of minorities", per Reuters.

An EU official said this week a similar recommendation could come for Moldova, where the bloc is also engaged in a geopolitical tug-of-war with Russia.

On Georgia, which unlike Kyiv and Chisinau was not granted the EU candidacy last year, "the jury is still out" on whether it would receive formal candidate status, Reuters has learned.

The EU’s executive will present its assessment in an annual report detailing how far countries looking to join the 27-nation bloc have advanced in meeting the necessary economic, legal, and other criteria.

A decision is then expected during a 14-15 December summit of EU leaders on whether to launch formal membership negotiations with Ukraine.

Earlier this month, Politico reported that the EU will likely formally announce the start of accession negotiations with Kyiv as soon as December.