Amidst the ongoing invasion by Russia, Ukraine will next week learn whether it can start the process to join the European Union (EU) or not as the country moves to build stronger ties with allies.
This was made known during a shock visit to the capital Kyiv, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday night and told him about discussions on whether to recommend Ukraine as a candidate for membership.
Africa Today News, New York reports that all 27 EU governments would have to agree to grant Ukraine candidate status, after which there would be extensive talks on the reforms required before Kyiv could be considered for membership.
Zelenskyy has been pressing for rapid admission into the European Union as a way of reducing Ukraine’s geopolitical vulnerability after Russia’s February 24 invasion.
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But officials and leaders in the bloc caution that, even with candidacy status, actual EU membership could take years – or even decades.
Von der Leyen, in her second trip to Kyiv since the start of Russia’s attack, reminded Zelenskyy that despite progress on administrative reforms and elsewhere, much is still needed to be accomplished.
‘You have done a lot in strengthening the rule of law, but there is still a need for reforms to be implemented, to fight corruption, for example,’ she told a joint news conference with Ukraine’s leader.
Africa Today News, New York reports that joining the EU is a process that usually takes years and requires meeting strict criteria – from economic stability to rooting out corruption to respecting human rights.
Despite reservations among some member states, EU leaders are expected to approve Ukraine’s candidate status at a summit on June 23-24, though with stern conditions attached.