The European Comission has today given the green light in its report to Ukraine be a candidate paper to join the European club. A step that has not been too surprising after yesterday the Heads of State and Government of France, Germany and Italy traveled to the country to show their support for Ukraine to be part of the european family.
But this open door has conditions. Brussels demands that the country do its homework and among them the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen He has recalled the need for the country to advance in the independence of the judicial system, the fight against corruption, the protection of minorities and the siege of the oligarchs. “The process is based on merit, which means that progress depends entirely on Ukraine,” the German policy has pointed out.
kyiv presented its candidacy at the end of February and the granting of candidate status has pulverized records for its speed. Despite this step strongly symbolic, the small print is not so flattering for the country that is fighting against Russian troops.
It may take years or even decades for this adherence to be fully effective, as you well know. Turkey who achieved his status as a candidate since 1999 and whose entry process into the community club has been at a standstill for years.
There are currently five other candidate countries: North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania. In the case of the first and last, this step has not been accompanied by progress in the accession process since the negotiations have not yet been formally opened due to the veto of several countries.
The Heads of State and Government of the Twenty-seven will meet next Thursday and Friday in the community capital to decide unanimously whether to give the green light to granting this status. for Ukraine. In recent weeks, European capitals have been very divided on this possibility.
While the countries of Eastern Europe pressed in this direction, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Luxembourg considered that there is no need to rush, given the danger that the Balkan countries that have been waiting for a long time will feel discriminated against. French President Emmanuel Macron is one of those who had spoken more clearly in this regardtaking into account that Paris has been the capital that has fought the most to harden the process.
Diplomatic sources explain that in recent days these positions are converging towards a common position of granting this status with specific conditions, in line with the document presented by the Community Executive this Friday. That’s why, The same sources see the green light as likely at next week’s summit.
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