Ukraine’s Accession Process to the EU: Judicial Reform in the Focus

This article scrutinizes the bilateral relations between the EU and Ukraine in the light of granting the candidate status and commencing the accession process. Firstly, it analyses the main legal frameworks existing prior to Ukraine’s application for membership. Further, it explores the main reflections on Ukraine’s application and the possible scenarios for the accession process. The reform of the judiciary is considered closely as a main condition within the accession process. It is argued that the fulfillment of the conditions prescribed in the European Commission’s opinion in 2022 and assessment report in 2023 relating to the judiciary have to be considered as a first step of successful negotiations process. Hence, the complex reform of the judiciary serves as a cornerstone in the accession process.