EU Backs Ukraine, Moldova's Accession Amidst War
Twelve European countries, including Germany, Slovakia, Sweden, and Finland, have expressed support for accelerating negotiations on Ukraine and Moldova's accession to the European Union.
This initiative stems from a letter addressed to the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU Council) by Martin Dvořák, the Czech Republic's Minister for European Affairs. The letter, as reported by the Prague press, urges the General Affairs Council (GAC) to adopt the negotiating frameworks for both countries by the end of June.
Unanimous approval by the GAC is required to convene the intergovernmental conference with Ukraine and Moldova before the end of June.
"Now is the opportune moment to move forward and take concrete steps towards Ukraine and Moldova's EU membership," Dvořák said. He commended the progress achieved by the Belgian EU Council Presidency on this front and emphasised that renewed momentum in accession negotiations would serve to bolster reform efforts in both countries.
"Given the unwavering commitment demonstrated by both candidate countries, I am confident that this is the right decision," Dvořák added.
He further underscored the importance of gradual integration of Ukraine and Moldova into EU policies and programs as a means to facilitate their path towards full membership.
In May, citing sources from five EU member states, Politico reported that the EU intends to formally commence accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova by the end of June. The biggest hurdle, according to diplomats, is Hungary's long-standing opposition. However, Brussels and Kyiv are engaged in efforts to persuade Hungary that Ukraine meets their requirements.
The decision to initiate accession negotiations received approval from the presidents and prime ministers of EU member states in December, shortly after Ukraine and Moldova submitted their applications following the Russian invasion of Ukraine two years ago. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reiterated his call for the prompt commencement of official discussions in recent months.
Diplomats anticipate that this will occur during the June summit. They believe that this move by the EU will serve as a strong signal of support for Kyiv amidst the escalating Russian offensive.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
