© ICTV Facts Ukraine, despite the terrible war it is facing, is implementing necessary reforms.
The European Union aims to commence membership negotiations with Ukraine “at the earliest opportunity,” yet refrains from specifying a particular date, as stated by European Council President Antonio Costa during a press briefing in Oslo, where he was on an official visit, as reported by Le Monde on February 19.
“We aspire to be in a position to officially launch negotiations as soon as feasible and to proceed with the enlargement process,” Costa articulated. “I am unable to confirm whether it will occur in 2027, or even 2026, or at a later juncture, but it is crucial to maintain momentum,” he added.
“It is exceptionally noteworthy that Ukraine, in spite of the appalling conflict it is enduring, is implementing the requisite reforms to attain full membership in the European Union,” Costa emphasized.
“There exist protocols for the accession procedure,” he reminded, in response to an inquiry regarding the potential for offering Kyiv “simplified” membership. “Candidate nations are obliged to fulfill these criteria,” he stated, alluding to the so-called Copenhagen criteria, established in 1993.
The American strategy to conclude the war in Ukraine contemplates Kyiv’s entry into the European Union as early as January 2027, a timeframe that experts generally deem unrealistic. Furthermore, the nation’s accession necessitates the endorsement of all EU member states. However, Hungary openly displays animosity towards Ukraine’s candidacy. Antonio Costa, nevertheless, pointed out that Budapest consented to grant Ukraine candidate status in 2022, despite now being vehemently opposed to it.
As a reminder, the European Union is considering various approaches that would enable Ukraine to secure the prospect of EU membership within a future peace accord with Russia. The option under evaluation involves furnishing Kyiv with the safeguards and entitlements typically accorded to member states at an initial phase.
The EU intends to establish a defined timeline for Ukraine, along with a catalogue of actions essential to advance with the formal accession proceedings. Alternative scenarios encompass either progressing through the standard accession process or instituting a transitional period entailing a phased augmentation of rights during the process.