Task force advances reform deliverables
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos and Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi co-chaired a meeting of the joint EU-Ukraine task force in Brussels to advance reform deliverables. The task force, established in October, includes representatives from the Ukrainian government, parliament, President’s Office, law enforcement agencies, and independent judicial institutions. This group intends to help Ukraine secure interim benchmarks in the first half of 2027 concerning Cluster 1, an area involving democracy, the rule of law, judicial reform, and anti-corruption measures. Kos said on X that the task force advanced on a concrete set of reform deliverables and a pathway to meet the ambition of Ukraine to secure the interim benchmarks in the first half of 2027. Verkhovna Rada Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said the responsibility for implementing these reforms extends to the entire Ukrainian state rather than just the government. He noted that parliament is prepared to pass necessary legislation in areas of justice and corruption fighting despite the ongoing Russian invasion. Koretskyi stated that part of the measures planned for November are already complete and that the country must move faster on next steps.
Commission assessment and accession targets
The European Commission’s November 4 annual enlargement report praised Ukraine’s progress toward EU membership but found Kyiv had made only "limited progress" on its rule-of-law reform roadmap. Most measures from the 10-point reform plan introduced in December last year remain unimplemented. The Commission named Ukraine a leading candidate for EU membership alongside Moldova, Montenegro, and Albania.
| Accession Detail | Target or Status |
|---|---|
| Accession Chapters | 7 of 33 completed |
| Chapter Completion Deadline | End of 2027 |
| Benchmark Assessment Type | Interim Benchmark Assessment Report |
| Benchmark Timing | First half of 2027 |
The Commission estimates Ukraine could complete negotiations on seven of the 33 accession chapters by the end of 2027 if reforms advance as expected. Ukraine seeks a positive Interim Benchmark Assessment Report from the European Commission in the first half of 2027. Officials also discussed improvements to the Ukraine Plan, which is a reform program linked to EU financial assistance under the Ukraine Facility. The task force was established in October to accelerate progress on interim benchmarks and advance anti-corruption and rule-of-law reforms.
