BRUSSELS, June 25 – The EU says that negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union will be strict and demanding, and the decision on whether all conditions for their completion will be met will be made by EU member states.

"The accession negotiations we open today will be rigorous and demanding. With determination and commitment, we are confident in your capacity to bring it to a successful conclusion. We will support you in your efforts and we look forward to welcoming you as a fully fledged member of the European Union," the Foreign Minister of the Belgium Presidency Hadja Lahbib said on Tuesday in Luxembourg at the opening of the Intergovernmental Conference marking the start of formal negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU.