France has taken a firm stance on Ukraine's accession to the EU – Le Figaro
Minister for European Affairs Benjamin Addad stated that Ukraine’s integration into the European Union will require long-term reforms and does not allow for quick solutions, despite political support for closer ties.
This is reported in an article by Le Figaro.
The French official emphasized that integration into the bloc is a geopolitical necessity for Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkan countries, but it requires the fulfillment of strict conditions. According to him, there can be no compromises regarding EU values or legislation.
Addad stressed that Ukraine must demonstrate progress in the fight against corruption, adherence to the rule of law, and ensuring the independence of the judiciary. Without the implementation of these reforms, full membership is impossible.
The minister noted that Paris supports Ukraine’s gradual progress toward membership through interim statuses and deeper integration. However, he emphasized that to achieve full membership, it is necessary to “tell the truth”—countries must undergo comprehensive reforms.
At the same time, changes await the European Union itself. Benjamin Addad explained that for successful expansion, the bloc must become more flexible and undergo internal transformations.
As a reminder, French President Emmanuel Macron previously proposed the idea of Ukraine’s “symbolic accession” to the EU, which would involve accelerating certain political processes. In June 2024, Ukraine officially began negotiations on EU membership, marking a historic step toward integration. Despite this, European leaders have repeatedly emphasized that the speed of accession will depend solely on the pace of implementing the necessary reforms.
Earlier, following a conversation with Zelenskyy, Fico confirmed that he is not opposed to Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
It should be noted that, according to Zelenskyy, the parties discussed bilateral relations and further cooperation. Both leaders are interested in ensuring that these relations remain strong.
Earlier, the European Parliament supported a document calling on the European Commission to freeze payments to Slovakia from the EU budget due to risks to the rule of law and the EU’s financial interests.
