Status: 09.05.2022 2:35 p.m
Ukraine is aiming for quick EU membership. Commission chief von der Leyen has now promised a speedy answer to the question of whether the country will become an official candidate for accession. Foreign Minister Baerbock still sees obstacles.
As early as June, the EU Commission wants to judge whether Ukraine can become an official candidate for EU membership. This was announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Twitter.
If the assessment by the Brussels authorities is positive, Ukraine could subsequently be given the status of an EU accession candidate – provided that all EU states agree. The status, in turn, is a prerequisite for the start of accession negotiations.
Questionnaire already submitted
Shortly after the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the end of February, Kyiv asked for rapid accession to the European Union. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government has already submitted documents that could form the basis for accession talks. The competent commission is now examining this and has also sent a list of questions to Kyiv. “We look forward to the answers to the questionnaire on EU membership,” von der Leyen wrote.
According to the Commission, the questionnaire replies serve to assess the political and economic accession criteria. Ukraine had already submitted the first part of the questionnaire on EU membership in mid-April. The Commission said that as soon as all the answers had been received, the statement would be completed quickly.
Baerbock dampens expectations
After the agency’s assessment, EU countries can vote on whether to grant Ukraine official candidate status. All 27 EU countries must agree to this. Subsequent negotiations for an accession agreement usually take years. Ultimately, all EU states must once again unanimously agree to the final accession.
Against this background, Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock dampened expectations. Although she confirmed in Frankfurt an der Oder that the Ukraine belongs to the “House of Europe”, she does not know when and how the accession can take place. Baerbock had already expressed reservations about the application for membership at the end of February, pointing out that such a procedure usually takes years.