Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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170. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Ireland's position on Ukraine's accession to EU membership. [23389/26]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Ukraine was granted EU candidate country status in June 2022, with negotiations opening in December 2023. The European Commission’s 2025 Enlargement report detailed the reforms being implemented by Ukraine in order to adhere to EU standards. The European Commission has also confirmed that Ukraine has met the necessary standards in order to open all negotiating clusters, which is a demonstration of the scale of these reforms. However, despite Ukraine meeting the necessary criteria, Hungary continues to block the opening of the first negotiating cluster for both Ukraine and Moldova. Ireland supports a merit-based EU accession process and has raised at political level our serious concern and frustration at this blockage. In the meantime, we support the technical so-called “frontloading” of work for Ukraine and Moldova’s candidacies, which continues to be advanced by the Cypriot Presidency.

Ireland’s support for Ukraine’s EU perspective is steadfast and remains a key focus of my engagements with my EU counterparts including at meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council. We will continue to encourage Ukraine to continue implementing the necessary reforms needed to progress towards EU membership, including on the Rule of Law and anti-corruption measures. Progressing EU Enlargement and individual candidacies, including for Ukraine, will be a key focus of Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU. In addition to political support, Ireland will also continue to provide practical support to assist Ukraine’s EU accession path. Last year Ireland made a contribution of €1.5 million towards the “Ukraine2EU”, a programme supporting Ukraine’s EU accession path. This initiative supports Ukraine in coordinating and monitoring its accession process, and ensuring the harmonisation of Ukrainian legislation with EU Law. My department is also supporting the provision of capacity building supports for candidate countries, including for Ukraine, to align with EU acquis.

The European Commission’s 2025 Special Eurobarometer Survey on Enlargement and Perception surveys in candidate and potential candidate countries confirmed that over 70% of Ukrainian’s support EU membership. Ukraine’s future lies within the European Union and Ireland will continue to support Ukraine’s efforts towards EU membership.