Page contents Page contents Overview Ukraine is a sovereign, democratic nation that has decided freely that it wants to join our European family. Ukraine applied for EU membership at the end of February 2022, only days after Russia launched its full-scale unprovoked and unjustified aggression. The EU is working with our Ukrainian partners to facilitate the accession process and support them in fulfilling the membership criteria. Ukraine's progress to date The Commission presented its opinion on Ukraine’s application in June 2022, and Ukraine was granted EU candidate status by all EU Member States that same month. In December 2023, EU leaders agreed to open accession negotiations with Ukraine. The EU formally opened accession negotiations with Ukraine at the first Intergovernmental Conference in June 2024. Countries in the accession process must implement reforms in order to align with the EU’s laws and standards, also known as the acquis. Ukraine has demonstrated an impressive capacity to deliver on reforms, even during wartime. The country has made progress on several important strands, including:reforming its justice systemdeveloping a functioning market economytackling money launderingmodernising its public administrationprotecting the rights of national minorities Before negotiations can take place, the Commission and Ukraine had to finalise a screening of the chapters of the acquis to determine how well the country is prepared for EU membership. Ukraine successfully completed this screening process in September 2025. Next steps The Commission is presenting the results of this process to Member States in the form of screening reports, in which it can recommend that they open negotiations in the relevant policy fields. Once Member States agree, the negotiation chapters (which are organised in 6 thematic clusters) can be opened. Ukraine has already met the conditions to open 3 of these clusters.Find out more about the EU accession process Europe is stronger with Ukraine Despite Russia’s war of aggression and the hardships it currently faces, Ukraine has started on a journey that holds significant advantages for Ukrainians and Europeans alike. Ukraine’s accession would increase regional stability and security, reinforce our shared values of freedom and democracy, and enrich our cultural diversity and heritage. It would also expand the single market, creating new opportunities for European businesses and strengthening Europe’s competitiveness. Ukraine holds strong historic and cultural ties with Europe and has aspirations for the political and economic stability that EU Member States enjoy. The country is a fully-fledged presidential-parliamentary democracy and has a well-functioning public administration that has kept it running during the war. There is an active civil society and the electoral system has been proven to be fair and free. Europe is in the eyes of all Ukrainians who fight for a better future. And together, we can win this fight. Together, we can complete our Union. Together, we can bring Ukraine in our common European home. This is the dream of Ukraine's heroes and Ukraine's martyrs. And it is our dream, too. Together we are Europe. Bringing Ukraine closer to the EU The EU is already working to gradually integrate Ukraine into its single market and allow Ukrainians to benefit from some of the advantages that European citizens enjoy. Trade The EU and Ukraine have an association agreement since 2014. This agreement is the main tool for bringing Ukraine and the EU closer together: it promotes deeper political ties, stronger economic links, and respect for common values. The agreement includes the deep and comprehensive free trade area (DCFTA), which boosts trade between the EU and Ukraine by gradually cutting tariffs on goods and services. It also contributes to the integration of Ukraine into the single market by encouraging Ukraine to align with EU standards. An updated DCFTA entered into force in October 2025, which will help to further enhance trade flows. The EU is Ukraine’s main trading partner, accounting for over 50% of its trade in goods in 2024. Total trade in goods between the EU and Ukraine reached €67.2 billion in 2024, meaning that trade in goods has more than doubled since the entry into force of the DCFTA in 2016. Find out more about EU-Ukraine trade Single market integration Ukraine joined the Single Market Programme in February 2023. Participation in this programme enables Ukrainian small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) to obtain support and gain access to EU markets. Find out more about EU support for Ukraine’s single market integration Research, innovation and educationUkrainian scientists and citizens take part in important EU programmes for research, innovation and education through Horizon Europe and Erasmus+. In December 2023, the Commission opened a new Horizon Europe office in Kyiv. Ukraine's participation in Horizon Europe and the Euratom Research and Training Programme is helping to preserve and nurture the country’s research and innovation ecosystem. The EU has funded over 11,500 exchanges between EU and Ukrainian citizens via the Erasmus+ programme since 2021.Find out more about EU support for Ukrainian research and innovation Connectivity Ukraine is associated to the Connecting Europe Facility programme since June 2023. This has enabled Ukrainian authorities and companies to apply for EU funding for transport, energy and digital projects of common interest, further improving Ukraine’s connectivity with its EU neighbours. The Commission has laid the ground to integrate Ukraine into the EU Roaming area as of 1 January 2026, and in the meantime has facilitated agreements between European and Ukrainian telecommunication operators to mutually lower their roaming rates for calls between the EU and Ukraine. Timeline 30 September 2025Ukraine completes the screening process of the negotiating chapters with the European Commission. 25 June 2024The EU formally opens accession negotiations with Ukraine. 12 March 2024The Commission presents the Council with a draft framework for Ukraine’s accession negotiations.14 December 2023The European Council decides to open accession negotiations with Ukraine.8 November 2023The Commission recommends that the Council opens accession negotiations with Ukraine.23 June 2022The European Council recognises the European perspective and grants candidate status to Ukraine.17 June 2022The Commission issues its opinion on the application for EU membership.Show 4 more items28 February 2022Ukraine applies for EU membership.
Ukraine is a sovereign, democratic nation that has decided freely that it wants to join our European family. Ukraine applied for EU membership at the end of February 2022, only days after Russia launched its full-scale unprovoked and unjustified aggression. The EU is working with our Ukrainian partners to facilitate the accession process and support them in fulfilling the membership criteria.
