According to ministers and diplomats, Ukraine will become an official candidate for the European Union in a symbolic decision but boosting morale after the invasion of Russia.
EU leaders in Brussels are expected to approve last week’s recommendation of the European Commission, the EU executive.
After several days of internal discussions in the EU, no opposition has emerged between the 27 member states, three diplomats said.
“We are working to the point where we tell Russian President Vladimir that Ukraine belongs to Europe, that we will also defend the values that Ukraine defends,” Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn told reporters before a meeting with other EU ministers.
But what would really happen if Ukraine joined the European Union? Here is a summary of what a possible affiliation would look like.
How does the process work?
The candidacy is the beginning of a process that requires far-reaching reforms to adapt to a range of standards, ranging from judicial policy to financial services and food security.
Still, the EU’s decision puts Kyiv on track to pursue an aspiration that would have been out of reach just a few months ago.
The process consists of several steps, including the adoption of all laws and regulations of the European Union. This usually takes a few years.
Finally, the candidate signs an accession treaty, which must be approved by all other EU countries.
Loading
What happens if Ukraine joins the European Union?
The European Union is a primarily economic and political organization, not a military alliance like NATO.
This means that membership would not necessarily mean that EU member states take up arms directly in the war with Russia.
However, membership can make a big economic difference, as it did with Bulgaria and Romania, whose GDP has doubled and almost tripled respectively since joining the EU.
In addition, there are military benefits. The EU has a mutual defense clause, which states that if an EU country is the victim of an armed aggression on its territory, the other EU countries have an obligation to help and assist everyone. the means at your disposal.
While the candidate status is mostly symbolic, the measure will help lift national morale at a very difficult time in a four-month conflict that has killed thousands, displaced millions and crushed towns and cities.
If admitted, Ukraine would be the largest EU country by area and the fifth most populous.
Who supports it?
In addition to the 27 European member states that agreed to Ukraine’s candidacy, U.S. President Joe Biden has also spoken out about possible membership in the war-torn country, saying it is “very likely to happen.” .
“Ukrainians are ready to die for the European perspective,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
“We want the European dream to live with us.”
Ms Von der Leyen wore the colors of the Ukrainian flag while discussing Ukraine’s candidate status in Brussels. (Reuters: Yves Herman)
The Dutch government announced that it would support Ukraine’s status as a candidate for the EU and called the European Commission’s council a “smart compromise”.
“[Candidate status] it is a right solution from a moral, economic and security perspective, “said Romanian President Klaus Iohannis alongside French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said that he believed that all members of the European Union would support the granting of Ukraine EU candidate status, and added: “This is how it comes to light. from the darkness “.
How did Russia react?
In a speech full of grievances in St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the West and the United States in particular, but tried to downplay the EU problem.
“We have nothing against it,” he said.
“It’s not a military bloc. It’s the right of any country to join the economic union.”
He also questioned whether it was “advisable” for the EU to allow Ukraine to join, saying that Kyiv would need large economic subsidies that other EU members might not be willing to give.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was closely following Ukraine’s bid to join the EU, especially in light of increased defense cooperation among the 27-member bloc.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has tried to downplay the EU issue. (AP: Mikhail Klimentyev / Sputnik)
What are the obstacles ahead?
While the recommendation marks a strategic move eastward by the EU in the face of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Kyiv would probably take years to become a member of the 27-nation union, if it does.
EU membership after the candidacy is not guaranteed: talks have stalled for years with Turkey, a candidate since 1999.
“Ukraine has already implemented about 70 percent of EU rules, regulations and standards. However, there is still important work to be done on the rule of law, the oligarchs, the fight against corruption and fundamental rights, “said Ms Von der Leyen.
In addition, Ukraine and Moldova, another candidate, are much poorer than their current EU members, with a per capita output of about half that of today’s poorest, Bulgaria.
They also have a recent history of volatile politics, corruption, organized crime, and conflicts with Russian-backed separatists.
Read more about the Russian invasion of Ukraine:
How likely is it to happen soon?
To become a member, Ukraine would have to carry out economic and political reforms and the bloc is unlikely to accept a country at war.
In peacetime, Poland, Ukraine’s neighbor with a similar population size and communist history, took 10 years from applying for membership in 1994 until joining in 2004.
Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania, some of the most recent members, took about 10 years to leave their candidate status, so it could be some time before Ukraine can officially join the union.
Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to search, up and down arrows for volume.
Reuters / ABC
Posted 6 hours 6 hours agoJune 23, 2022 at 6:50 AM, updated 5 hours ago 5 hours ago Thursday, June 23, 2022 at 7:24 AM