European Union Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Maternova told in what year negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union may end.
When negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU may end
According to the EU Ambassador to Ukraine, negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union could be completed in six years – by 2030.
According to the current plan, a new expansion of the European Union is possible in 2030.
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– A couple of years may be too short. But so far I have seen in Ukraine great determination and tenacity to move quickly. So I actually think that in the case of Ukraine it may take less time than it used to with some other countries. I think that 2030 is a very realistic date,” said the ambassador.
She also noted that EU enlargement is subject to unanimity. And any individual member country has the opportunity to postpone or block individual steps. According to her, Ukraine is not the first, and probably not the last, where this happens.
In particular, answering the question whether it can be considered that the process of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union is already irreversible, Katarina Maternova said that, given past experience, there may be reasons for reversibility.
– If the country has turned into a dictatorship, then probably — in life in this sense there is nothing irreversible, yes? But if you ask whether this is a firm commitment and whether we and Ukraine are on the path to the EU, then I would answer a resounding yes. And in fact, this could not have been said before the full-scale invasion,” the EU ambassador said.
Recall that yesterday, June 25, Ukraine and Moldova officially began negotiations on joining the European Union.
Vladimir Zelensky said that this is the result of long and hard work by the entire government. The head of state also explained that what remains now is the technical side of the work, the adaptation of the political system of Ukraine to the EU.
Earlier, on June 21, the EU Council confirmed the mandate adopted at the level of EU ambassadors for negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on accession to the EU, which will begin on June 25 in Luxembourg.
