This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/news/582882-eu-commission-president-ukraine-accession/

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
EU chief to advocate Ukraine’s accession – Bloomberg EU should grant Ukraine membership – von der Leyen
(about 3 hours later)
Ursula von der Leyen will argue for welcoming Kiev to the bloc in her annual message on Wednesday, the media outlet claims The European Commission chief argued in her State of the Union address that enlargement would be in the bloc’s best interest
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to endorse Ukraine and Moldova's admission into the EU during her State of the Union address on Wednesday, according to a report by Bloomberg. The outlet claimed that she had previously highlighted the significant shifts in the geopolitical landscape triggered by Moscow's military campaign against Kiev as a compelling reason for this move. The European Union should enlarge and absorb Ukraine into its structure, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has argued in her 2023 State of the Union address. The official claimed that the move would not necessarily require amendment of the Treaties of the European Union, the legal basis for the bloc’s existence.
Bloomberg, citing undisclosed sources within the EU, claimed on Wednesday that a significant portion of Von der Leyen's speech would center on the impact of Russia's actions in Ukraine on the European bloc. In her speech in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France on Wednesday, von der Leyen stressed that Brussels is faced with the historic task of “completing our Union,” before proclaiming that the “future of Ukraine is in our Union.”  The European Commission president insisted that the bloc “cannot afford to leave our fellow Europeans behind,” apparently referring to Ukrainians.
Earlier this month, the senior official reportedly told EU ambassadors that the union must expand its borders by granting Ukraine and Moldova accession. According to the media outlet, she cautioned that failing to do so might expose these nations to the influence of countries not aligned with the bloc's values. “In a world where size and weight matters, it is clearly in Europe’s strategic and security interests to complete our Union,” the official concluded.
Bloomberg also pointed out that some EU member states harbor concerns about potential overextension by accepting Ukraine into their ranks and channeling resources toward it. The article noted that worries about corruption in the aspiring nations have also been voiced. According to von der Leyen, the potential accession of Ukraine could be implemented even before the European Convention and Treaties were amended.
Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, speaking to Politico in early September, warned against fast-tracking Ukraine's accession, saying that it could jeopardize the EU's credibility in the eyes of other hopefuls waiting to join the bloc longer than Kiev, resulting in a “geostrategic disaster.” However, Bloomberg on Wednesday cited undisclosed EU sources briefing that some member states harbor concerns about potential overextension of the bloc by accepting Ukraine and channeling resources toward it. The article also noted that worries about corruption in aspiring nations have also been voiced.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishina told Voice of America last week that “two years would be enough for full preparedness” for Kiev’s membership. She described her country as one of the “best prepared [nations] for the EU accession.” Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, speaking to Politico in early September, warned against fast-tracking Ukraine’s accession, saying that it could jeopardize the EU’s credibility in the eyes of other hopefuls waiting to join the bloc longer than Kiev, resulting in a “geostrategic disaster.”
Late last month, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that the bloc had to “be prepared for an enlargement that could add ten more members to the European Union,” mentioning Ukraine in particular. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishina told US state run Voice of America last week that “two years would be enough for full preparedness” for Kiev’s membership. She described her country as one of the “best prepared [nations] for EU accession.”
Kiev officially applied for EU membership in late February 2022, days after Russia attacked the country, with neighboring Moldova following suit not long after. The European Council granted candidate status to both nations in June of the same year. Late last month, EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell said that the bloc had to “be prepared for an enlargement that could add ten more members to the European Union,” mentioning Ukraine in particular.
According to Bloomberg, the European Commission is expected to announce whether it recommends launching formal negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova to become EU members at a summit in Granada, Spain next month. Kiev officially applied for EU membership in late February 2022, days after Russia attacked the country, with neighboring Moldova following suit not long after. The European Council granted candidate status to both nations a few months later.
EU leaders are expected to discuss the potential enlargement of the bloc at a meeting of the European Political Community in Granada, Spain on October 5, as well as at the European Council summit in December.