The European Union plans to open the sixth cluster in Ukraine's membership talks at an intergovernmental conference in Brussels on 14 July, a senior EU diplomat told Ukrinform. The external relations cluster would open for both Ukraine and Moldova, making it the second cluster unlocked in Kyiv's accession process. Conferences with Montenegro and Albania are planned for the same day.
Cluster 6 on the table for 14 July
"Internal discussions in the EU Council continue, but I think we are in a good position to hold intergovernmental conferences next week with Ukraine, Montenegro, Moldova, and Albania," the diplomat said on condition of anonymity.
The conferences are scheduled for 14 July, when the EU's General Affairs Council meets in Brussels. The Ukraine meeting's agenda is the opening of cluster 6 — external relations — for Ukraine and Moldova. Some negotiation chapters may also be closed with Moldova and Albania the same day.
One cluster agreed, the rest contested
Member states have so far agreed to open only one additional cluster with Ukraine. Discussions on the remaining clusters continue, though the EU "remains ambitious," the diplomat said.
"We are ambitiously striving to open all clusters as soon as possible, but obviously this issue needs to be worked through with several member states," the source said, declining to comment on the negotiating positions of the objecting capitals.
Momentum from Ankara
European Council President António Costa announced the imminent opening of another negotiating cluster with Ukraine on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara. Estonia's prime minister has urged the bloc to open all negotiating clusters for Ukraine without delay.
