EU Council President for accession
Michel: “Ukraine can belong to the EU in 2030”
October 4, 2023, 3:13 a.m
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Ukraine wants to become a member of the European Union. Support comes not only from Germany, but also from EU Council President Charles Michel – as long as Ukraine does “its homework,” he emphasizes.
EU Council President Charles Michel has spoken out in favor of Ukraine joining the EU by 2030 – provided that Kiev meets certain criteria. “Ukraine can belong to the EU in 2030 if both sides do their homework,” Michel told “Spiegel”. Among other things, he called on the EU to speed up the “decision-making processes”.
By quickly admitting Ukraine, the EU would also “prove that it is capable of geopolitical action,” Michel continued. However, the EU Council President said that there would be no political discount for any of the EU accession candidates. “Ukraine and the other candidate countries must implement reforms, fight corruption and meet the legal requirements,” Michel added. Nevertheless, the EU must now “not waste any more time,” as the influence of Russia and China is becoming ever greater in the Western Balkans, for example.
In addition to Ukraine, Turkey, the six Western Balkan states and the Republic of Moldova are also candidates for EU membership. The EU heads of state and government will discuss on Friday in Granada, Spain, the start of accession talks by the end of the year, as requested by Ukraine. The EU Commission wants to make a recommendation by the beginning of November at the latest. A decision should then be made at the Brussels summit in mid-December. The decision requires unanimity from all 27 EU countries.
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also recently expressed confidence about Ukraine’s rapid accession to the EU. “The future of Ukraine lies in the European Union, in our community of freedom,” said Baerbock. “And it will soon extend from Lisbon to Luhansk,” she added.