Ukrainian Foreign Minister: Joining the European Union with the "fastest speed" | Speed | Foreign Minister
According to a report by Russian news agency on the 22nd, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba stated on the 22nd that Ukraine is moving towards integration with the European Union at the "fastest speed" possible, and negotiations on joining the EU will begin within the year or in the absence of force majeure.
According to the report, Kuleba said in a program on parliamentary television channel, "We are taking this path to obtain candidate member state status as soon as possible and then enter the negotiation stage as soon as possible. That is to say, we are crossing these two steps at the fastest speed possible, rather than embarking on a process that lasts for several years. We are moving forward at the fastest speed. If there is no force majeure this year, then everything will be smooth." Ukraine's foreign minister pointed out that Ukraine can now arrange accession negotiations before the end of 2023.
▲ Information image: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba
Reuters reported on the 19th, citing sources, that the European Union will soon release a report on Ukraine's application for membership, stating that Kiev only meets two of the seven necessary conditions to initiate formal accession negotiations. Sources have revealed that the conditions met by Kiev are related to judicial reform and media laws, and this report mainly focuses on positive aspects.
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According to reports, the European Commission earlier proposed in its opinion on granting Ukraine candidate member state status that it must meet seven requirements as a prerequisite. Among the conditions proposed by the European Union, Ukraine is required to carry out the most systematic judicial reform, with the government reforming the Constitutional Court, adjusting the Supreme Judicial Council and the Supreme Judicial Qualification Committee, and continuing to combat corruption.
Obtaining the status of a candidate country is only the beginning of a long journey towards joining the alliance. Türkiye became a candidate in 1999, Northern Macedonia -2005, Montenegro -2010, Serbia -2012. The last country to join the European Union is Croatia, which joined in 2013 and took 10 years.
On February 28, 2022, Zelensky signed Ukraine's application to join the European Union. In March of the same year, Moldovan President Sandu also signed an application to join the European Union, stating that the process of European integration must be accelerated. At the Brussels Summit held on June 23, 2022, EU heads of state and government approved the granting of candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova.