21 Mar 2022 15:35

Rada asks heads of EU Commission, European Parliament to fast-track Ukraine's admission to EU

KYIV. March 21 (Interfax-Ukraine) - The leadership of Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada and parliamentary factions and groups have addressed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, asking to speed the procedure of Ukraine's admission to the European Union.

"EU membership is an idea uniting the people of Ukraine and supported by every region of the country without exception. More than 86% of Ukrainians are welcoming European integration and believe that Ukraine will become an EU member soon," Verkhovna Rada said in the address published by the Ukrainian parliament's press service on Monday.

"We are convinced that if Ukraine is promptly granted the candidate status with the support of most EU citizens, this will be a sign of the confirmed readiness of the EU to continue the resolute struggle for the values upon which the EU is based," it said.

Ukrainian MPs are welcoming the European Parliament's call for EU institutions to work on granting Ukraine an EU candidate member status, and the decision of the European Council to support the Ukrainian people's European choice and Ukraine's course toward Europe, it said.

"We kindly ask you to help swiftly secure the European Commission's positive decision on granting Ukraine the candidate status as an initial step toward a fast-track procedure for obtaining a full membership in the European Union," Rada leaders said.