1. What is the EU Commission’s position on the three aspiring members?
2. Selenskyj appreciates Scholz’s visit
3. Even less gas flows through Nord Stream 1
4. What will this summer be like with Corona?
5. AfD elects new party leadership
6. It’s getting hot!
7th Documenta dedicated to the rice barn
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Ursula von der Leyen and Volodymyr Zelenskyj in Kyiv in early April
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Image: dpa
1. What is the EU Commission’s position on the three aspiring members?
The EU Commission intends to make its recommendation today as to whether Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia should become candidate countries. Berlin, Rome and Paris are backing Kyiv.
expectation: It is considered very likely that the Brussels authorities, headed by Ursula von der Leyen, will vote in favor of granting Ukraine the status of an EU accession candidate. However, the Commission could link a recommendation to reform requirements – which is considered a realistic scenario in Brussels. Moldova and Georgia also want the status and, like Ukraine, have completed the relevant questionnaires, which serve as the basis for the Commission’s decision.
proponents: France, Germany, Italy and Romania are in favor of Ukraine’s “immediate” EU candidate status, French President Emmanuel Macron said in Kyiv on Thursday. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) declared: “Ukraine is part of the European family.” He also advocated granting Moldova the same status. The 27 EU heads of state and government are meeting in Brussels next week. The decision to officially nominate Kyiv as a candidate for accession would have to be taken unanimously by all member states.
Further commitments: Germany, Great Britain and the United States are supplying Ukraine together with ten new MARS II multiple rocket launchers – Germany is contributing three of these from Bundeswehr stocks. According to the United States, the participating countries in the Ukraine contact group also promised the country almost 100 additional artillery pieces on Wednesday evening.
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Want to signal solidarity: four heads of state visit Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv
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Image: EPA
2. Selenskyj appreciates Scholz’s visit
Scholz only wanted to travel to Ukraine if there was something specific to be settled – now he, together with three other EU heads of state and government, made several promises in Kyiv.
Unity and Praise: As expected, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy found positive words about the fact that the heads of state and government who had arrived spoke out in favor of Ukraine’s EU accession candidate status: This status “could be a historic decision for Europe,” said Zelenskyy on Thursday in Kyiv. At a joint press conference, Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi said: “President Zelenskyy understood that candidate status is a journey and not yet the goal. A path that requires far-reaching reforms.”
No further weapon commitments: In addition to Draghi, French President Emmanuel Macron and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis accompanied the Chancellor on his visit to Kyiv. The Chancellor did not make any concrete promises for further arms deliveries to Ukraine, but promised further help. Selenskyj was nevertheless satisfied. Weapons would be delivered, including those requested. “Germany is helping us a lot here.”