European Parliament President supports start of membership negotiations with Ukraine by end of year
Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, has stated that she supports the start of the negotiations concerning Ukraine’s EU membership in the middle of December of this year.
Source: Metsola at the meeting with journalists in Brussels on Thursday, as European Pravda reports, referring to Politico
Details: She noted that the EU must "keep our promises on opening negotiations".
Quote: "Ukraine’s efforts on reforms have been extraordinary, even and especially in times of war. If the reform criteria have been sufficiently met, we need to respond. And I remain optimistic that this can still be achieved this year," Metsola stated.
Details: When asked about Ukraine's application to join the bloc, Metsola said she is optimistic "by the statements that she heard from the leaders" of the EU member states.
Quote: "Our hope would be that the December European Council will be the place or the time where that step [start of accession negotiations – ed.] can be taken. Once the reforms […] have been completed, then we have to take the equivalent step from our end," she added.
Background:
- The European Commission believes that Ukraine has fully implemented two out of seven conditions necessary to open accession negotiations, and progress has been made on the remaining conditions.
- The Ukrainian government forecasts that Ukraine will have implemented the rest of the recommendations by October.
- Zelenskyy promised that Ukraine, in turn, would fulfil all criteria of the European Commission necessary for the start of the negotiations about EU membership by the end of this year.
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