Brussels has issued a new statement on Ukraine's accession to the EU
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos stated that she would be “the happiest person in the world” if Ukraine were able to sign an accession agreement with the European Union during her term. At the same time, she emphasized that no specific dates have been set in Brussels yet, as the process depends not only on Ukraine but also on all EU member states.
According to Kos, Ukraine has already demonstrated good progress on the path to membership and continues to implement the necessary reforms. It is precisely this, she noted, that gives the European Union grounds to move forward in the negotiations.
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos shared her vision for Ukraine’s future in the European Union during an interview for the “Yedyni Novyny” telethon. She emphasized that the EU traditionally does not set specific accession dates for candidate countries. The reason is simple: first, the country must meet the necessary conditions and demonstrate results. “When it comes to accession, we do not set specific dates because first the candidate country must show results. Then comes the technical process, and we must also take into account the dynamics within member states,” Kos said.
At the same time, the European Commissioner makes no secret of the fact that she personally would very much like to see Ukraine among the members of the European Union in the coming years. “I would be the happiest person in the world if Ukraine were able to sign an accession agreement during my term. Then my mission would be accomplished, and I could retire,” she noted.
Marta Kos gave a positive assessment of the pace of reforms that Ukraine is carrying out even amid a full-scale war. According to her, it is precisely these concrete changes and the fulfillment of commitments that have led Brussels to increasingly discuss Ukraine’s progress on the path to membership. The Commissioner emphasized that Ukraine has demonstrated the ability to make quick decisions and carry out the complex tasks posed by European integration. “Ukraine has shown that it is capable of delivering good results,” Kos emphasized. She also added that she is doing everything possible to ensure that the process of bringing Ukraine and the EU closer together moves forward as quickly as possible.
Despite the positive signals, Kos reminded that EU accession is a complex process requiring the approval of all member states. That is why, even after Ukraine fulfills the necessary conditions, final decisions are made at the level of the entire European Union. Brussels emphasizes that issues such as the rule of law, judicial independence, the fight against corruption, transparency in public procurement, media freedom, and the protection of national minority rights remain crucial.
Kos has previously stated that there will be no simplified or “fast-track” accession mechanisms for Ukraine. According to her, all countries follow the same path and must meet the necessary criteria.
Earlier this week, Marta Kos paid an official visit to Ukraine. During her stay in Kyiv, she visited the Lukyanivskyi district of the capital, which was damaged by Russian shelling, and held meetings with Ukrainian parliamentarians.
In addition, the European Commissioner confirmed that on June 15, the European Union will officially open the next stage of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession. In Brussels, this is being called an important step in the process of our country’s European integration.
Marta Kos’s statement indicates that political support for Ukraine’s EU membership remains within the European Commission. At the same time, the European Union itself emphasizes that the success of the negotiations will depend on how quickly Ukraine continues to implement reforms and fulfill its obligations.
Despite the lack of specific dates, Brussels is increasingly referring to Ukraine as a future member of the European Union. And although the path ahead remains challenging, recent statements by European officials show that support for Ukraine’s accession at the highest level has not waned.
The European Commission proposes to include in the new, 21st package of sanctions against Russia a ban on entry into the European Union for all individuals who served in the Russian armed forces during the war against Ukraine.
Once the war ends, Ukraine plans to introduce special restrictive entry procedures for Russian citizens entering its territory. This was stated by Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga during a press conference in Vinnytsia. According to him, this involves enhanced controls, checks, and a permit system for visiting the country.
