G. Landsbergis expects the EC to give a green light to Ukraine’s membership in the EU, difficult negotiations in the EEA

“The decision itself is kept under nine locks, but the visit of the president of the European Commission to Kyiv indicates that she probably wouldn’t go with bad news (…). There is such an expectation in the circle of many countries that support Ukraine, undoubtedly also among the Ukrainians themselves, that the decision will be positive”, said G. Landsbergis to LRT radio.

He emphasized that further steps will still have to be approved by the European Council.

“There the discussion will be really very difficult. The European Union has been paralyzed on many issues for almost the last year,” said the minister.

Ukraine received EU candidate status last year and hopes to start formal negotiations this year on what needs to be done to confirm its membership. The EC is due to submit a report on Ukraine’s progress towards EU membership this week.

The head of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who visited Kyiv at the weekend, said that Ukraine has achieved “many important results” in its quest for EU membership, reforming the justice system, limiting the influence of oligarchs, and fighting money laundering. She also said that she has no doubt that after implementing these reforms, Ukraine will make progress in the accession process.

Along with Ukraine, Sakartvel and Moldova are also seeking EU membership negotiations.