European Union countries on Friday formally approved the launch of accession negotiations with war-torn Ukraine and Moldova next week, another step in the two nations’ long journey to join the 27-nation bloc. Belgium, which currently holds the presidency of the European Union, said member states have agreed on a negotiating framework. “This opens the way for launching the negotiations on Tuesday 25 June in Luxembourg,” the Belgian presidency said. Talks will be launched with two intergovernmental conferences․ |