Brussels believes Ukraine may become EU member by end of 2029
MOSCOW. Oct 31 (Interfax) - Ukraine might become a European Union member within the next five years provided that it implements all the required reforms, European Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi said on Wednesday.
The European Union has created additional tools for Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans "to actually get them up to speed in terms of reform delivery," Ukrainian media quoted Varhelyi as saying at a press conference in Brussels.
"This is called the Growth Plan, the Ukraine Plan, depending on the countries. And with the Growth Plan, we have made it possible for the Western Balkans, for Moldova, but also for Ukraine, to complete the reforms and to have everything ready and to become a member by the end of the next mandate," Varhelyi said.
On October 30, the European Commission published its 2024 enlargement report setting out progress made by the candidate countries.
The European Council granted Ukraine EU candidate status at a summit in Brussels on June 23, 2022. Kiev is expected to implement a number of key reforms, including those related to the rule of law, oligarchs, and corruption.
Media said EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova handed the 2024 Enlargement Report over to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal.
"Today we are taking another step towards EU membership. The College of Commissioners of the European Commission adopted the Report on Ukraine as part of the 2024 Enlargement Package. During our meeting, EU Ambassador Katarina Mathernova handed over the Report, which shows our clear progress on the transformation path in all areas. This is one of the key documents attesting to Ukraine's movement toward the EU," media quoted Shmygal as saying on his social account.
The new report says that the European Commission is looking forward to opening negotiations on clusters as soon as possible in 2025, once Ukraine complies with all the conditions, he said.
"Our European integration is immediately related to the implementation of the Reform Plan under Ukraine Facility. We're strictly on schedule, reaching specific indicators," he said.
As reported, the European Commission acknowledged in its annual Enlargement Package on October 30 that Ukraine had made progress in implementing EU membership criteria and looked forward to opening negotiations on clusters as soon as possible in 2025.
"Following the first intergovernmental conference in June 2024, the analytical examination of the acquis (the screening) is progressing smoothly. Following Ukraine's ratification of Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, further steps should be pursued to ensure the full alignment of its domestic legislation. The steady increase of Ukraine's alignment with the EU common foreign and security policy positions and restrictive measures is a clear sign of political commitment and should continue. Subject to Ukraine meeting all the conditions, the Commission is looking forward to the opening of negotiations on clusters, starting with the fundamentals, as soon as possible in 2025," the European Commission said in its findings and recommendations to the 2024 Enlargement Package regarding Ukraine.
"Ukraine continued to foster integrity and meritocracy in the judicial system as well as to strengthen the anti-corruption institutional framework and build an enforcement track record in high-level corruption cases," the document says.
"Ukraine has also overhauled its legislation on the protection of rights of persons belonging to national minorities. The martial law related restrictions of fundamental rights remain overall proportionate," it says.
"The authorities also advanced in implementing important reforms as part of the Ukraine Plan," it said.
At the same time, the European Commission pointed out that, "despite progress on fundamental reforms, further efforts are needed."
"Ukraine should continue focusing on building further a credible enforcement track record in high-level corruption cases to address systemic corruption in most relevant sectors and institutions, and consolidate integrity, professionalism, and efficiency in the judiciary and in the law enforcement sector, while also stepping up the fight against organized crime," it said.
Ukraine also needs to further strengthen protection of fundamental rights, continue implementing the amended legislation on the protection of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities in close cooperation with national minority representatives, and advance public administration and decentralization reforms, it says. "Measures to support repair and rebuilding of infrastructure will be key for full recovery of the economy, especially in the energy sector which needs to be further decentralized with its governance improved," it says.
