EU: Government: Ukraine meets requirements for accession talks

According to the German government, Ukraine has implemented all the reform requirements for the start of talks on joining the European Union. “From the German government’s point of view, Ukraine meets all the requirements to be able to open EU accession negotiations in June,” said Minister of State for Europe Anna Lührmann (Greens) when asked by the dpa. “We are therefore pushing for all member states to quickly agree on the negotiating framework.”

The negotiating framework sets out guidelines and principles for the accession talks. It is a prerequisite for the start of negotiations and must be adopted unanimously by the 27 EU member states.

The basic decision was made months ago

The start of accession talks with Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia, and its small neighbouring country Moldova had already been decided in principle at an EU summit in December. At the same time, however, it was agreed that all reform requirements must be met before negotiations can begin.

According to the last written report of the Commission, some reforms to combat corruption, protect minorities and reduce the influence of oligarchs had not been fully implemented in Ukraine. Until recently, it was unclear whether the German government considered the progress made in the meantime to be sufficient.

According to Brussels diplomats, whether a quick agreement on a negotiating framework will be reached could become clear at a meeting of EU member states’ ambassadors next week. After initial talks at this level this Wednesday, Hungary in particular is still considered an uncertainty factor.

Minority rights dispute

According to the diplomats, the government in Budapest does not agree with the current draft of the negotiating framework and wants, among other things, the issue of minority protection to be addressed more explicitly. It is extremely critical of Ukraine’s desire to join the EU – among other things because it believes that the rights of a Hungarian minority in Ukraine are not sufficiently respected.

For the people of Ukraine, the opening of EU accession negotiations is seen as an important sign that it is worth continuing the defensive struggle against Russia. How long it will take until the country joins the EU after the talks have started is completely unclear. Turkey, for example, became an EU candidate in 1999 – and has probably never been further away from membership than it is today.

Selenskyj puts pressure on

Theoretically, it is also possible that a candidate country never becomes a member. In the case of Ukraine, for example, it is currently considered impossible that it will become an EU member before the end of the Russian war of aggression. This would mean that Kiev could demand military assistance under Article 42, Paragraph 7 of the EU Treaty – and the EU would be a party to the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently made it clear that he hopes for a decision on accession negotiations in June. “Our state, our people deserve it, and the European Union also needs this step,” he said at the beginning of May. The EU also draws its strength from not turning away anyone who believes in its values.

Minister of State Lührmann said of the current negotiations at EU level that the German government would continue to support Ukraine on its path to the EU. “Ukraine’s future lies in the EU,” explained the Green politician.