The President of the European Parliament maintains that formal negotiations on the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the European Union (EU) should begin at the end of the year and calls on 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 at 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 indicated as the possible date for Ukraine’s entry into the EU.
In this interview about the European Newsroom project, of which Lusa is an observer member, the leader of the European Assembly insisted that “if Ukraine and Moldova are ready, accession negotiations should be able to begin progressively.”
“Accession negotiations should be able to start and be progressive [porque] “Each country has its own path, but we do not let down the millions of people who see Europe as their home,” he appealed.
The issue of enlargement will be on the table at the third summit of the European Political Community, which will take place in the Spanish city of Granada on Thursday of next week. The following day an informal European Council takes place, held in Spain within the framework of the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU, also dedicated to the enlargement of the community bloc.
“I look forward to the discussions,” said Roberta Metsola.
“I can say, based on my experience as a candidate country, that we must take action and that if we move quickly because the recommendations that have been made to us are being met, then we have to be prepared to take the next step and, therefore, “If Ukraine and Moldova are ready, the accession negotiations must be concluded,” the official stressed.
For the opening of formal accession negotiations, the agreement of all EU Member States is necessary, and this process aims to prepare the candidate country in terms of adaptation to the legislation and implementation of the necessary judicial, administrative and economic reforms. .
Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa has been warning of the challenge that EU enlargement represents for the community club, calling for “the frustration of Ukraine’s expectations” to be avoided.
In mid-2022, EU Member States took a historic decision to grant candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, joining a wider group of countries, some of which have long been in the “queue” to enter the EU. advances in recent years.
This list now consists of Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, North Macedonia, Albania, Ukraine, Moldova and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Enlargement is the process by which states join the EU, after meeting the political and economic requirements.
Any European State that respects the community’s democratic values and is committed to promoting them can apply for membership in the EU, but to do so it must undergo a process of formal negotiations (which can only be approved unanimously among the current members). Member States), followed by the implementation of the necessary judicial, administrative and economic reforms.
The Council, in its General Affairs formation, establishes and supervises the EU enlargement process and accession negotiations, acting unanimously.
Source: TSF
