For her second visit to Ukraine since the Russian invasion, Ursula va der Lien wanted to bring hope. She let it be understood that the European Commission was in favor of Ukraine’s candidacy for membership of the European Union and that it would communicate its recommendation to the 27 next week.
“We want to support Ukraine on its European journey”the Commission President told the press after her meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “Today’s discussions will allow us to finalize our recommendation by the end of next week”she added, according to Euronews.
L’Ukraine a “much done to strengthen the rule of law, but there are still reforms to be implemented, particularly in the fight against corruption”she nevertheless specified, echoing the concerns of several members of the EU.
European family
Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty (RFE-RL) I have no doubt that the Commission will support Ukraine’s candidacy, but points out that for certain countries, in particular Denmark, “Ukraine does not sufficiently meet the criteria for the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the respect and protection of minorities”.
It is to take these concerns into account that the recommendation will be accompanied, according to the site, by “conditions linked to the rule of law and anti-corruption legislation”.
The European edition of Politico has few doubts about the Commission’s support either, noting that “will der Leyen has always defended the approach of kyiv”asserting at will that Ukraine’s membership of “the European family” did not do “no doubt”.
Preliminary step
But a favorable recommendation from the Commission, however positive it may be for the Ukrainians, would only be a “preliminary step on the long road to membership”highlighted The Guardian. It does not even guarantee that Ukraine will be formally declared a candidate, this decision having to be taken by the 27 unanimously.
France and Germany have also expressed their reservations about a “accelerated accession procedure for Ukraine”while the process usually takes “long years”remember Politico. But the Ukrainian authorities have assured that they are not seeking preferential treatment, declaring that they “ready to meet stringent EU entry requirements”.
On Saturday, President Zelensky hammered home that an answer “Positive of the European Union to the candidacy of his country would represent a historic moment for Europe”, reports Deutsche Welle. For the Head of State, it would also be “a positive response to the question of whether the European project has a real future”. Ukrainians “have already made an enormous contribution to the defense of common liberty” on the Old Continent, he said.