Netherlands to remain strict on Ukraine's EU accession reforms

The Netherlands intends to maintain a rigorous approach regarding Ukraine's adherence to rule-of-law and anti-corruption reforms as part of its European Union membership bid. Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen emphasized that while Ukraine's accession is crucial for European security, significant progress on these reforms is still required.

Speaking at a lecture in Maastricht on August 27, Berendsen noted that Ukraine has made limited headway on the necessary reforms over the past year. He stressed that enlargement must strengthen the EU as a whole, necessitating a strict, yet fair and engaged, approach. Berendsen highlighted that Ukraine faces an extensive reform agenda, particularly concerning the rule of law and the fight against corruption, which are prerequisites for advancing its EU integration.

These remarks align with previous statements made by the minister. EU leaders had previously agreed to open the first of six enlargement clusters with Ukraine, which specifically addresses the rule of law and anti-corruption efforts. However, Ukraine's parliament has yet to pass legislation covering the 10 priorities outlined by the EU's enlargement chief, Marta Kos, and former Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka. Consequently, the EU has explicitly linked the fulfillment of these reforms by the end of 2026 to the release of EU funding.

Berendsen also suggested that an increase in publicly reported corruption cases might indicate improved efforts to combat corruption, rather than a failure to improve. He reiterated the Dutch government's view that Ukraine's future is firmly within the European Union and that its accession is of great importance to European security. The Netherlands is also considering proposals to amend the EU accession process to incorporate additional rule-of-law safeguards for new member states, with specific ideas to be presented in the coming days ahead of an anticipated discussion among EU leaders in mid-October.