2023-06-11 02:22:27
Ukraine is counting on continued pressure on European countries to accelerate its accession to the European Union, while the bloc is waiting for the implementation of its conditions, and for taking more reform measures in the country facing a war with Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously said his country deserves to start talks to join the bloc this year, following the European Union agreed to grant Kiev “candidate” status, starting a process that might take years to pull the warring country away from Russia’s influence and link it more closely with the West.
Ukraine applied for European Union membership less than a week following the start of the Russian military operation on February 24, 2022, and curbing government corruption and adopting other reforms was a top priority.
Kiev implemented the required reforms by appointing a new head of its National Anti-Corruption Bureau.
But some of the 27 EU countries question Kiev’s ability to recover from the war, or implement the democratic and anti-corruption reforms needed to qualify for membership any time soon.
Monitor terms
In turn, a spokesperson for the European Union, Luis Miguel Bueno, revealed, in exclusive statements to “Sky News Arabia”, the extent to which Ukraine fulfilled the necessary conditions, saying:
* After granting Ukraine candidate status for EU membership in 2022, the Council of the European Union regularly monitors the fulfillment of the conditions specified in the European Commission opinion on the application for membership.
* These terms are included in reforms related to the judiciary, the rule of law, anti-money laundering, markets and other reforms.
* At the Special European Council meeting in February 2023, EU leaders recognized the significant efforts shown by Ukraine towards meeting these conditions, and the Council will decide to take further steps once all these conditions are fully met.
* Let us not forget that this is the first time in the history of the European Union that a candidate country has faced continuous armed aggression once morest it.
* In the meantime, the European Union will continue to provide political, economic, financial and military support to Ukraine. The total assistance provided by the European Union and its member states has reached 67 billion euros, and we are determined to continue this.
* As stated by the President of the European Commission, the future of Ukraine lies in the European family.
Copenhagen Standards
The European Union requires the fulfillment of a number of conditions and regulations under which the application for membership is approved. According to the bloc’s website, it must comply with the “Copenhagen Criteria” that were approved by the European Council in 1993, and include a free market economy, stable democracy and the rule of law, respect and protection for minorities, and acceptance of all EU legislation, including the euro.
In addition, the candidate country for membership must have a functioning market economy and the ability to deal with competition and market forces in the European Union, with the ability to undertake and effectively implement the obligations of membership, including adherence to the objectives of the political, economic and monetary union.
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