Decision of the EU Council – EU accession status for Ukraine – you need to know that – News


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It may be a historic day for Ukraine and Moldova. The heads of state and government of the European Union decide whether the two countries receive candidate status.

Is approval in the European Council just a formality? Pretty much everyone in Brussels is assuming that Ukraine will be granted candidate status, according to SRF-EU correspondent Michael Rauchenstein. A week ago, the three top politicians Scholz, Macron and Draghi in Kyiv clearly spoke out in favor of candidate status and a day later, on Friday, the EU Commission officially recommended this status for Ukraine and Moldova.

In Brussels, however, everything is only done when all 27 member states have agreed. According to Rauchenstein, some fear that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban could still disrupt the harmony. However, he assumes that Hungary will also agree. A rejection of candidate status for Ukraine would send a devastating signal to Moscow.

Does candidate status mean that Ukraine will soon become a member of the European Union? No, it is rather a symbolic sign of the EU member states that they can envisage Ukraine as a potential member, says the EU correspondent. However, one should not underestimate the symbolic effect of the prospect of accession, especially for the Ukrainian population.

When would membership in the EU be possible? Even if the EU and Moldova were granted candidate status, this would still take years, says Rauchenstein. The two countries will receive a whole catalog of conditions from the EU Commission, for example in the area of ​​fighting corruption. Only when these conditions are met can the accession process go one step further. For effective accession, a candidate country must meet the so-called Copenhagen criteria. These criteria include issues such as the rule of law or the ability to integrate one’s own economy into the EU internal market.

Some countries in the Western Balkans, such as Albania and North Macedonia, also have candidate status. What is the perspective there? North Macedonia and Albania have been waiting for years for the EU to start accession negotiations with them. This has not yet happened due to various blockades by the member states. In the case of North Macedonia, Greece first blocked the process until what was then Macedonia changed its name; Bulgaria is currently using its veto. Basically, according to Michael Rauchenstein, one can say that the European Council itself does not know exactly whether it is seriously interested in additional members. France in particular has been hearing for a long time that the EU must first reform itself internally before it is ready for more members.

Incomprehension and frustration in the Western Balkans


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The Western Balkans are six countries: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia. Four of them are already EU accession candidates. Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo, which have not yet submitted an application, are not yet candidates.

The fact that their countries are not making progress – and that everything in the EU seems to revolve around Ukraine’s candidate status – is causing resentment in the Western Balkans. Peter Balzli, SRF correspondent in Vienna, finds this understandable: “Put yourself in the shoes of the North Macedonian ministers. For years they have been doing absolutely everything to get their country into the EU. They even changed the name of their country against their will. And yet she refuses to join the EU. You feel betrayed across the board. And of course the other countries in the region see it too.”

The Western Balkans have not had patience for a long time and have already founded their own economic community, the “Open Balkans”. Peter Balzli says: «’Open Balkan’ may be a small coup – but it’s a coup. It’s only 12 million people. But it is a sign of life from the western Balkan states that they are fed up and are taking their fate into their own hands. But clearly: ‹Open Balkan› will not replace EU accession. That’s clear to everyone.”

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