30 May 2022 19:06

France not against fast-track procedure to grant Ukraine EU candidate status - French FM

MOSCOW. May 30 (Interfax) - France supports the possibility for Ukraine to follow a fast-track procedure to gain European Union candidate country status, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna said.

"We support the idea for Ukraine to follow a fast-track procedure. Ukraine has applied for candidate status. It is a legitimate application. The heads of state will consider it at the end of June, while the [European] Commission's expert conclusion will be available in the coming days, in mid-June. I am not yet aware of what this conclusion is going to be, but we are all working in order to secure unanimity among all EU member states and to ensure that this application is accepted based on all criteria and clear-cut terms in accordance with the European Commission's conclusion," Colonna said at a press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv on Monday, according to Ukrainian media outlets.