At the end of last year, the leaders of the Community agreed to open negotiations with Kyiv on EU membership, a historic step taken as the war in Ukraine started by Moscow almost two years ago continues.
In order for Brussels and Ukraine to start negotiations, the EC must prepare a negotiation program that must be approved by all 27 EU member states.
U. von der Leyen indicated that she believes that the program will not be prepared before the EP elections in early June.
“It will take time. But I think we will be ready in the summer, at the beginning of the summer,” she told reporters.
Elections to the EP will be held on June 6-9.
Ukraine and its most active supporters want the accession negotiations to start as soon as possible and to proceed faster.
Brussels said in December that Ukraine must meet year-old conditions on issues such as judicial reforms and the fight against corruption to move on to the next phase.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who maintains close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has repeatedly spoken out against Ukraine’s bid to join the EU, although he endorsed the start of accession talks in December.
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2024-05-01 04:21:21