The Commission put forward proposals for draft negotiating frameworks for Ukraine and Moldova to the Council, following the decision by the European Council in December 2023 to open negotiations with both countries. EC will give oral report to the Council on the progress made by both countries to address the recommendation made in the Commission's Enlargement report of the 8^th November.

The negotiating frameworks establish the guidelines and principles for the accession negotiations with each candidate country. The draft frameworks prepared by the European Commission are divided into three parts: 1) principles governing the accession negotiations, 2) substance of the negotiations, and 3) negotiations procedure. The objective of the negotiations is that Ukraine and Moldova adopt the EU acquis in its entirety and ensure its full implementation and enforcement.

The draft negotiating frameworks build on the experience of past enlargements and the on‑going accession negotiations. They integrate the revised enlargement methodology and take into account the evolving EU acquis.

It is now for the Council to begin their internal deliberations on these texts. Once the Council has adopted the negotiating frameworks, the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union will present the agreed-upon  EU Common Position in the first inter-governmental conference with each country, marking the formal start of the accession negotiations. The negotiating frameworks will be made public at this stage.

Full press release here.