The President of the European Parliament states that formal negotiations on the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the European Union (EU) should begin by the end of the year, asking member states “not to disappoint millions of people”.
“Instead of focusing on the date (…) – and it is good that there is a date on the table – let us focus on the hope of starting accession negotiations by the end of this year,” said Roberta Metsola in an interview with Agência Lusa and other European news agencies in Brussels, at a time when 2030 is being pointed out as the possible date for Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
In this interview on the European Newsroom project, of which Lusa is an observer member, the Leader of the European Assembly emphasized that “if Ukraine and Moldova are ready, accession negotiations should be allowed to begin gradually”.
‘Accession negotiations must be able to start and be progressive [porque] every country has its own path, but we will not disappoint the millions of people who call Europe their home,” he urged.
The subject of enlargement will be on the table during the third summit of the European Political Community, which will take place next Thursday in the Spanish city of Granada. The next day, an informal European Council will take place in Spain as part of the Spanish presidency of the EU Council, also dedicated to expanding the community bloc.
“I look forward to the discussions,” said Roberta Metsola.
“Based on my experience as a candidate country, I can say that we need to take steps and that if we make rapid progress because the recommendations made to us are being met, we should be ready to take the next step and that is why “If Ukraine and Moldova are ready, accession negotiations should be completed,” the official further emphasized.
The opening of formal accession negotiations requires the agreement of all EU Member States, and the aim of this process is to prepare a candidate country to align itself with legislation and implement the necessary judicial, administrative and economic reforms.
Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa has warned of the challenge that EU enlargement brings to the community club, asking that “the frustration of Ukrainian expectations” be avoided.
In mid-2022, EU member states adopted a historic decision to grant candidate country status to Ukraine and Moldova, joining a broader group of countries, some of which have long been in the ‘queue’ to join the EU to join. progress in recent years.
This list now consists of Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, North Macedonia, Albania, Ukraine, Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Enlargement is the process by which states join the EU after meeting political and economic requirements.
Any European state that respects and commits to promoting the democratic values of the community can apply for membership of the EU, but to do so it must undergo a process of formal negotiations (which can only be unanimously approved by the current Member States). Member States), followed by the implementation of the necessary judicial, administrative and economic reforms.
The Council, in its General Affairs formation, sets up and monitors the EU enlargement process and accession negotiations, acting unanimously.
Source: DN
