The key facts
- The European Commission proposes intermediate targets for 2027 without specifying a date for Ukraine's EU accession
- The seven-area document is to be presented on November 4; it is called a 'living document'
- Kyiv is advised to accelerate rule-of-law reforms in the first half of next year
A new approach to the talks
The European Union is softening its tone on Ukraine's accession: instead of a specific accession date, the new plan will set only intermediate targets for 2027. This is reported by Politico, citing a draft documentthat came into the editorial office's possession; Life.ru also references it. According to the outlet, the European Commission is preparing a more cautious 'roadmap' for the talks with 'limited progress targets for 2027.'
What the document contains
The document is to be presented on November 4. It includes seven areas in which Ukraine could preliminarily complete the talks as early as 2027. At the same time, the European Commission is urging Kyiv to significantly accelerate rule-of-law reforms in the first half of next year. Brussels calls the roadmap a 'living document': the Commission retains the right to adjust the plan as the talks progress.
Unresolved clusters and the reaction within the EU
Another task is to begin discussing by the end of 2026 the two areas where the talks have not yet advanced: cluster 4 (the green agenda and sustainable connectivity) and cluster 5 (resources, agriculture and 'cohesion'). Attitudes within the EU toward Ukraine's accession remain contested: the leader of France's National Rally party, Marine Le Pen, previously called such accession 'hara-kiri' for the European Union— in her view, it threatens European states with a loss of sovereignty and serious financial costs.
