Nov 8, 2023 at 6:55 AM Update: 27 minutes ago
According to EU diplomats, the European Commission will advise member states on Wednesday to start accession negotiations with Ukraine as soon as the country meets all the conditions. The advice carries a lot of weight and Ukraine already meets more than “90 percent of the conditions”.
Ukraine applied for EU membership soon after the Russian invasion in February last year. Membership means “economic security and social stability” for the country, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
But Ukraine is not yet administratively and economically ready for membership and is of course at war. Ukraine has already received billions in aid from the European Union since the Russian invasion.
Because Ukraine is also fighting the war on behalf of Europe, the EU member states granted the country candidate membership despite reservations.
They did note that Ukraine still has some catching up to do before negotiations begin. The country must tackle corruption and strengthen the rule of law.
Ukraine is implementing reforms ‘astonishingly’ quickly
According to Ursula von der Leyen, the country has started working on this at breakneck speed. “Amazing” for a country that now has to fight a much larger and stronger neighbor, the president of the European Commission said on Saturday in Kyiv.
According to Von der Leyen, the country has already completed “much more than 90 percent” of the necessary work. Only the fight against corruption and minority rights still needs to be improved. But “you can make it, and quickly too,” Von der Leyen told Ukraine.
The European Commission advised the member states on Wednesday to allow Ukraine – and also Moldova – to start accession negotiations soon.
EU leaders could give this permission at their summit in December. Hungary is a possible obstacle. That country has more ties with Moscow than Kyiv and has repeatedly criticized Ukraine’s accession.
If the EU member states adopt the advice, discussions will probably start in 2024. The negotiations could take about ten years, EU diplomats warn.
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Zelensky thinks it is ‘not the right time’ for Ukrainian elections
Image: Von der Leyen and Zelensky on Saturday in Kyiv, Getty Images
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2023-11-08 05:55:26
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