Latvia submitted its application to join the European Union four years after the restoration of independence in 1995. It took nine years to meet the so-called Copenhagen criteria and the adapted legal framework in line with European Union standards – in 2004 Latvia became a full member of the European Union.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed an application for Ukraine’s accession to the EU on Monday, and the document was sent to Brussels, where he was applauded by the European Parliament. The President of Latvia, Egils Levits, has also announced that the EU must immediately grant Ukraine the status of a candidate country and give access to funding. A similar position has been expressed by the President of Estonia Alars Kariss.
However, even in the context of new trends – after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, academics are skeptical about Ukraine’s becoming a full member of the EU in the near future, even after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Kārlis Bukovskis, Deputy Director of the Latvian Institute of Foreign Policy, believes that Ukraine’s accession to the EU will not take place in the coming years. The expert explains that admission to the European Union follows standardized, time-consuming procedures. He also doubts that EU member states will even agree to grant Ukraine candidate status, as the situation in the country is currently unpredictable.
“It is also an unusual situation in the EU itself for a country in a state of war that has been attacked to apply to the EU,” Bukovsky told LETA, adding that even if EU member states, driven by political sympathy, granted Ukraine candidate status. accession negotiations will not start and its accession to the EU will not take place in the coming years.
Atis Lejins, representing the “New Unity” in the Saeima’s European Affairs Committee, which discussed Latvia’s position on Ukraine’s accession on Wednesday, believes that the state of war in Ukraine is not an obstacle to its accession to the European Union. In this situation, the criteria that had to be met before becoming a member of the EU are not mandatory for Ukraine either.
“It simply came to our notice then. There are criteria that no other country that has become a member of the European Union had to meet – it is the criterion that people in Ukraine are dying for Europe. This is not insignificant. There is always room for speeding up the process and postponing compliance with the criteria. “
says the Saeima deputy. However, he acknowledges that some Member States may oppose the application of the accelerated procedure. “Come on. There will be a meeting of the European Council on Friday morning, let’s put forward our arguments, ”adds A. Lejins.
Richard Kohl, representing the National Associations in the European Affairs Committee, shares this view and points out that this would be a political decision for the Member States of the European Union. Ukraine could ensure compliance with the requirements of the European Union once the situation has stabilized.
At the same time, he points out that the accelerated accession of Ukraine to the 27-nation bloc could provoke a chain reaction. Namely, Turkey has been a candidate country for twenty years and may wish to be subject to a similar procedure in the event of Ukraine’s accession.
Mr Bukovsky also recalls that there are countries in the Western Balkans that have tried to change and are fighting for EU membership. These countries can not be said that Ukraine qualifies for admission more than them.
Vita Anda Teleža, Chair of the European Affairs Committee for Development / For Development, is also optimistic about Ukraine’s inclusion in the European Union. However, she predicts that Ukraine will need two to five years to become a member of the European Union. However, in the vision of a deputy, Ukraine deserves the status of a candidate country already now. “In my opinion, Ukraine has demonstrated its commitment to the values of the European Union through its heroic actions,” says the head of the commission.
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