LMonday, April 18, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he hoped to obtain for his country “in the coming weeks” the status of candidate for membership of the European Union (EU), thanking Brussels for the speed of the process. During a meeting in kyiv, the Head of State transmitted to the EU Ambassador to Ukraine, Matti Maasikas, two voluminous files constituting Ukraine’s application for membership of the European Union.
“Our people are, deep down, already mentally in Europe for a long time. Despite everything, each country must follow this procedure, ”said the Ukrainian president. Usually, obtaining EU candidate status “takes years” but Brussels “really gave us the opportunity to start this procedure within a few weeks or months”. “We are truly convinced that this procedure will be initiated in the weeks to come”, assured the president, believing that this would be “an important signal” for the friendship between kyiv and Brussels.
A long integration process
According to President Zelensky, “Ukrainians are united behind this objective: to feel equal to other Europeans, to be part of the European Union”. Integration into the EU is a long-term process to bring the legislation of the candidate country closer to European law. It requires complex negotiations on many subjects and criteria that are difficult for a country at war to meet, such as political stability and a functioning market economy. It also requires the unanimous agreement of the 27 member countries.
But these are divided on the question of a future membership of this former Soviet republic, invaded by Russia since February 24. Eight countries (Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Bulgaria, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) have called, in an open letter, to open discussions on Ukraine’s membership. But a third of the Member States, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy or Spain, are more “reserved”, according to a diplomatic source contacted by Agence France-Presse.
