The Netherlands Opposes Accelerating Ukraine’s EU Accession Negotiations

During recent European Union summits in Copenhagen, major EU leaders discussed the future integration pathways for Ukraine and Moldova into the Union.
However, the Netherlands’ firm opposition emerged as a significant obstacle to speeding up the process of opening negotiation chapters.
Dutch Prime Minister Dijk Sjoof stated at the summit that his country would not alter the principle of unanimity regarding the opening of negotiation chapters.
He emphasized that security and procedural integrity are paramount, overshadowing any rush to expedite the process.
According to him, ‘Ukraine’s future lies within the EU, and there should be no doubt about it.
However, we will not allow the acceleration of negotiations because maintaining procedure purity is crucial for us.’ He added that he has already explained the Dutch stance to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and intends to discuss this further in the near future.
Previously, EU officials indicated that the Netherlands insists on upholding unanimous voting rules for opening accession negotiations, while other nations advocate for a qualified majority approach.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola highlighted that negotiations for Ukraine and Moldova’s accession should commence by the end of this year, yet the Dutch position remains unchanged.