EU says Ukraine must speed up rule of law reforms to meet accession goals

The European Commission has praised Ukraine as a frontrunner among EU candidate countries, citing its commitment to integration despite Russia’s war and its potential in areas such as energy, agriculture, digital technology and defence. But it says Ukraine must speed up reforms, particularly on the rule of law and anti-corruption, to meet its goal of closing accession negotiations by the end of 2028.

Ukraine expects to open the final two of six negotiating clusters in December 2026; the clusters cover reforms across 33 chapters. The Commission reports limited progress on the rule-of-law roadmap and says a 10-point reform plan remains mostly outstanding, with no significant new anti-corruption laws adopted. It calls for urgent changes to judicial appointments and a more transparent, merit-based process for appointing the Prosecutor General, and also raises concerns about pressure on journalists and the state-backed news telethon.