[1/3]Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attend a press conference amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine on November 4, 2023 in Kiev, Ukraine. Portal/Thomas Peter acquires license rights
- EU executive publishes report on candidates’ accession progress
- Ukraine hopes to start talks about EU membership
- Moldova is expected to follow suit, questions about Georgia
BRUSSELS, Nov 6 (Portal) – The European Union’s executive branch is expected to recommend bringing Ukraine a step closer to EU membership this week, EU officials said. This is a coveted prize for Kiev as fatigue creeps in almost two years after Russia’s invasion.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s Brussels-based executive will publish a report on Wednesday assessing the progress of EU candidates towards membership. During a visit to Kiev on Saturday, she praised Ukraine’s progress.
The report and recommendation will inform a key decision at a summit of EU leaders in December on whether to begin formal accession negotiations with Kiev.
Such talks take years until candidates meet comprehensive legal and economic criteria for entry, and the bloc is unwilling to accept a country at war.
Still, advancing Western integration is a top priority for Ukraine, where troops are suffering from battle fatigue and concerns are rising about the future of vital U.S. military aid.
The Commission said last June that Ukraine had met two of seven conditions the EU had set for opening accession negotiations.
“You have made excellent progress,” von der Leyen said at a news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday.
“You are waging an existential war and at the same time deeply reforming your country,” she said, highlighting reforms to Ukraine’s justice system, curbing oligarchs and combating money laundering.
She expressed confidence that Ukraine would soon complete the remaining steps – related to fighting corruption and protecting minority rights – and move forward on its path to the EU.
Zelenskiy said Kiev would meet the conditions and a positive EU decision would give new motivation to its society and troops. He said Ukraine’s eventual EU accession would strengthen both.
“There will be no gray geopolitical zones in Europe. We will create a new foundation for growth and development of Ukraine and all European countries. We will guarantee our country and our citizens real economic and social security,” he said.
His comments capped a week when Ukraine’s commander-in-chief said the war was heading toward battles of attrition and the Italian prime minister spoke of international war weariness in a prank call that was later made public.
MOLDOVA, GEORGIA
In good news for Ukraine, the German Foreign Minister expressed confidence that the EU would press ahead with its accession efforts.
Kiev is expected to get the green light this week “provided it takes more action against corruption and securing minority rights,” the latter of which was raised by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is proud of his contacts with Moscow.
The Commission’s report on Wednesday will also look at other EU candidates, including Georgia and Moldova.
The latter received nine conditions for opening accession negotiations, including the fight against organized crime, and, together with its neighbor Ukraine, can receive a conditional positive recommendation.
“Moldova has demonstrated its resilience and commitment to advance its EU agenda while taking measures to mitigate the impact of Russia’s war of aggression,” said a draft of the report seen by Portal ahead of its official publication.
EU officials say Georgia has failed to meet the 12 conditions set for it to gain candidate country status, which Kiev and Chisinau achieved last year, just months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February had.
But Tbilisi has Orban’s support and could still press ahead on its path to the EU as the bloc vie for influence with Russia.
Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Sharon Singleton
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