Michael Roth in “Early Start”
“EU must now clearly commit to Ukraine membership”
05/05/2022, 09:25 am
When can Ukraine join the European Union? There will be no fast-track procedure, says SPD foreign policy expert Michael Roth. Nevertheless, a clear signal is now needed.
The chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the German Bundestag, Michael Roth, has demanded from the European Union that Ukraine can expect a clear sign of EU accession before the end of this year.
“We need a clear signal for Ukraine this year if possible that things can get started,” said the SPD politician on ntv’s “Frühstart”. “That would be an encouraging signal for the people there, especially in times of war.”
Roth added that it would be a “long and arduous road” for Ukraine to help along: “There will certainly not be a fast-track procedure, but I expect the EU to make a clear commitment now: if the If the criteria are met, these states can join the EU.”
The EU has “showed the cold shoulder” to the states of Eastern Europe for far too long. This was “very hurtful for the Ukrainians and for the people in Moldova and Georgia,” said Roth, who also called for the start of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania, as well as “finally visa liberalization for Kosovo.”
Roth also defended the planned oil embargo against Russia: “We have now put up a clear stop sign. After the coal embargo comes the oil embargo flush the Russian treasury.”
According to Roth, the Russian budget is “greatly dependent on these oil revenues”. The fact that the embargo cannot be implemented immediately is due to the unanimity in the EU. There are also countries that are significantly more dependent on oil supplies from Russia than Germany, said the SPD politician.