The European Commission intends to give its opinion in June on obtaining Ukraine candidate status for the European Union (EU), which is likely to pave the way for the lengthy negotiation process requiring the agreement of the Twenty -Seven, announced Ursula von der Leyen on Monday.
We look forward to receiving responses [de l’Ukraine] in the EU accession questionnaire. The EU’s European Commission intends to deliver its opinion in Junewrote the President of the Commission on his Twitter account.
On 7 March the EU launched the procedure for reviewing applications for membership submitted by Ukraine, but also by Georgia and Moldova, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed on April 18 the hope of obtaining candidate status for his country. in the coming weeks.
He thanked Brussels for its speed, noting that it typically gains EU candidate status takes years.
Mr. Zelensky then sent the EU ambassador to Ukraine, Matti Maasikas, two large files forming the application for entry into the EU.
A long process
Romania, which joined the EU in 2007, submitted its application on 22 June 1995 and the Commission’s opinion was delivered on 15 July 1997.
Once the Commission’s opinion has been expressed, discussions will begin between the candidate country and the European executive, prior to the opening of official membership negotiations requiring the unanimous agreement of the Twenty -Seven.
Joining the EU is a long -term process to bring the candidate country’s law closer to European law. It requires complex negotiations on many topics and criteria that are difficult for a country at war to meet, such as political stability and a functioning market economy.
At a summit in March in Versailles, EU heads of state and government did not rule out Ukraine’s early EU membership, while opening the door to closer ties.
Five countries are currently official candidates in the EU, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Turkey.
Macron pleads for a political community in Europe
French President Emmanuel Macron called on Monday in Strasbourg for the creation of a political community in Europe to welcome Ukraine in particular, during the procedure of EU accession it will take years, if not decades.
In his speech on the occasion of Europe Day, Emmanuel Macron underlined that Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia, was that heart member of our union while Moscow staged a military commemoration with great joy of victory in 1945 against Nazi Germany.
But the process of accession to the EU, which Kyiv seeks, it will take years, really decadesunderlined the president of France, who suggested, in parallel, the creation of a new European organization.
This new European organization will allow democratic European countries that adhere to our base of values, to find new space for political cooperation, security, cooperation.explained Emmanuel Macron on the occasion of the closing of the Conference on the future of Europe.
Source: Radio-Canada
