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Despite not meeting key criteria for European Union accession, Ukraine’s President Zelensky says country will join bloc by 2030 | Despite not meeting key criteria for European Union accession, Ukraine’s President Zelensky says country will join bloc by 2030 |
(21 days later) | |
Ukraine joining the European Union is not a matter of if, but when, according to its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, who predicted Kiev would be welcomed into the 27-member bloc before the end of the decade. | Ukraine joining the European Union is not a matter of if, but when, according to its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, who predicted Kiev would be welcomed into the 27-member bloc before the end of the decade. |
Speaking to a meeting of officials on Thursday, Zelensky said Ukraine has now become a “credible and responsible member of the international community,” making a significant contribution to global and regional security and stability. | Speaking to a meeting of officials on Thursday, Zelensky said Ukraine has now become a “credible and responsible member of the international community,” making a significant contribution to global and regional security and stability. |
According to a summary of conferences on the official presidential website, Ukrainian politicians have discussed how “membership in the European Union is no longer a hypothetical possibility – it is a matter of time, and must be decided before the end of the decade.” The officials have also discussed further integration into EU markets and how to achieve membership of NATO. | According to a summary of conferences on the official presidential website, Ukrainian politicians have discussed how “membership in the European Union is no longer a hypothetical possibility – it is a matter of time, and must be decided before the end of the decade.” The officials have also discussed further integration into EU markets and how to achieve membership of NATO. |
Joining the EU is one of Zelensky’s key foreign policy aims, and he has been working on achieving accession ever since his election in 2019. Although Kiev and Brussels have a very close association agreement, there are still many obstacles to Ukraine’s ambition of becoming a full member, including the low level of economic development and the ongoing war in Donbass. | Joining the EU is one of Zelensky’s key foreign policy aims, and he has been working on achieving accession ever since his election in 2019. Although Kiev and Brussels have a very close association agreement, there are still many obstacles to Ukraine’s ambition of becoming a full member, including the low level of economic development and the ongoing war in Donbass. |
The EU has also repeatedly encouraged Kiev to solve its corruption problem, which Members of the European Parliament believe “continues to hamper Ukraine’s reform process.” | The EU has also repeatedly encouraged Kiev to solve its corruption problem, which Members of the European Parliament believe “continues to hamper Ukraine’s reform process.” |
Last week, former Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said in a televised interview with the country’s Channel 5 that Ukraine won’t be able to join the bloc having made only “cosmetic reforms and imitation,” but needs instead to make real progress. | Last week, former Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said in a televised interview with the country’s Channel 5 that Ukraine won’t be able to join the bloc having made only “cosmetic reforms and imitation,” but needs instead to make real progress. |
“If you look at the Copenhagen criteria [for being a member], it’s about permanent democracy, a sustainable rule of law, and a sustainable market economy. We have neither the first, nor the second, nor the third,” Klimkin said. “And I can’t even say that we are effectively moving towards at least one of the criteria.” | “If you look at the Copenhagen criteria [for being a member], it’s about permanent democracy, a sustainable rule of law, and a sustainable market economy. We have neither the first, nor the second, nor the third,” Klimkin said. “And I can’t even say that we are effectively moving towards at least one of the criteria.” |
In 2017, then-European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called the country “not ‘European’ in the sense of the European Union,” knocking back suggestions from the then-Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko that “Ukraine is the European Union.” | In 2017, then-European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called the country “not ‘European’ in the sense of the European Union,” knocking back suggestions from the then-Ukrainian leader Petro Poroshenko that “Ukraine is the European Union.” |
As things stand, Turkey, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Albania are all recognized as candidate countries, while Ukraine is not. Earlier this month, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmigal led a delegation to Brussels and met with EU bureaucrats. | As things stand, Turkey, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Albania are all recognized as candidate countries, while Ukraine is not. Earlier this month, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmigal led a delegation to Brussels and met with EU bureaucrats. |
In September, the EU’s Foreign Affairs High Representative Josep Borrell wrote a blog revealing that he had warned Zelensky not to treat the block like a “cash machine,” having already received €14 billion ($17 billion) since 2014. Borrell’s post came shortly after Brussels and Kiev signed a loan agreement for €1.2 billion ($1.45 billion). | In September, the EU’s Foreign Affairs High Representative Josep Borrell wrote a blog revealing that he had warned Zelensky not to treat the block like a “cash machine,” having already received €14 billion ($17 billion) since 2014. Borrell’s post came shortly after Brussels and Kiev signed a loan agreement for €1.2 billion ($1.45 billion). |
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