Aspiring bloc members, together with Kiev, is not going to be given any shortcuts in the direction of membership, Ursula von der Leyen has signaled
International locations aspiring to hitch the EU should observe the “merit-based” accession course of and attain the milestones outlined by the bloc’s guidelines, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen mentioned on Friday.
The EU chief made the remarks throughout a press convention following a summit of the bloc’s leaders within the Spanish metropolis of Granada. Von der Leyen touched upon the accession means of potential members, stating that every one of them should observe due procedures.
“The method is merit-based,” the EU Fee head defined. “There are clear guidelines, there are milestones that need to be achieved.”
Such a stance was included within the joint declaration that was adopted in the course of the summit. Whereas the doc reiterated the bloc’s readiness to “proceed to help Ukraine and its folks for so long as it takes,” it additionally warned that potential new members will probably be given no shortcuts in the course of the accession course of.
“Aspiring members have to step up their reform efforts, notably within the space of rule of legislation, in keeping with the merit-based nature of the accession course of and with the help of the EU. In parallel, the Union wants to put the required inside groundwork and reforms,” the declaration reads.
Whereas the doc didn’t present any timeframe for when an growth will really occur, the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, mentioned the bloc must be able to increase by 2030. “What’s vital is to cease procrastinating,” he mentioned in the course of the press convention.
The remarks by the highest EU officers are available distinction to earlier statements in regards to the prospects for Ukraine’s accession. In mid-September, as an example, von der Leyen mentioned Ukraine would “full” the bloc and claimed that the transfer wouldn’t essentially require an modification to the Treaties of the European Union, the authorized basis for its existence.
Becoming a member of the EU has been a key speaking level for pro-West Ukrainian politicians for many years, but little precise progress on that path was achieved earlier than the battle between Kiev and Moscow broke out in February 2022. Nevertheless, the hostilities have seemingly re-invigorated the method, with high Ukraine officers repeatedly demanding the nation be accepted into the bloc as quickly as doable because of its perceived position in defending the EU from an allegedly looming Russian invasion.
Nevertheless, in current weeks, quite a few present and former EU officers have warned in opposition to fast-tracking Ukraine’s admission, arguing, for numerous causes, that it would do extra hurt than good to the bloc itself. Maybe probably the most damning opinion was voiced by Jean-Claude Juncker, a former president of the European Fee, who argued that Ukraine was merely approach too corrupt to hitch the EU anytime quickly.
“Those that have handled Ukraine know that this can be a nation that’s corrupt in any respect ranges of society,” Juncker mentioned in an interview with Germany’s Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper.
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