The European Union has initiated formal preparations to open further accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova. On June 17th, the Council of the EU’s Working Party on Enlargement and Countries Negotiating Accession (COELA) began reviewing screening results for Clusters 2 through 6 – areas covering fundamental rights, the rule of law, security, and other key policy areas. This review, conducted by experts from all 27 EU member states, marks a significant step forward in the countries’ paths toward potential EU membership. The screening process assesses Ukraine and Moldova’s alignment with EU standards in these specific policy clusters. Opening these clusters will allow for deeper negotiations on the adoption of EU legislation. This move signals continued EU support for Ukraine and Moldova amidst ongoing geopolitical challenges. The process is a technical step, but crucial for progressing accession negotiations.