With confidence, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky declared that Ukraine “will be part of the European Union”. Yet a future within the EU still seems a long way off for the country that is in the midst of a war with Russia. “This country is in ruins and we don’t know where the war is going.”
However, Europe correspondent Stefan de Vries says things can suddenly go fast. ‘A year ago it was still unthinkable for Ukraine to become a member of the EU, yet it became a candidate member of the EU quite quickly after the war. It was stated at the time that it might take more than ten or fifteen years before membership could really be achieved.’ But Zelenski is trying to do something about that amount of time, notes De Vries. He’s trying to speed up the process. This is also what Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, wants, unlike the member states.’
“Ukraine fulfills 72% of the conditions”
But obtaining membership is ‘legally and technically complicated’, underlines the correspondent for Europe. ‘Even if there was a fast track to Ukraine, we still don’t see it happening within the next five years. You have to rebuild an entire country and that is very difficult even in peacetime. This country is in ruins and we don’t know where the war is going.”
Officially, the country also has to meet many conditions to become a member. For example, there must be “stable democracy and the rule of law”, there must be a well-functioning economy, the country’s laws and rules must be the same as in the EU, and the EU must not be annoyed by Ukraine . Ukraine itself also claims that it has already fulfilled 72% of the conditions of the association agreement with the EU. This could also mean a prelude to EU membership.
EU flag and anthem gave Zelensky ‘EU feeling’
During Zelensky’s speech to the European Parliament, it even seemed for a moment that Ukraine was already a member of the EU, with the European anthem played and the EU flag handed over to Zelensky. ‘This was very surprising and echoed in the speech he gave. He spoke of “returning home” meaning the European Union. He behaved as if Ukraine had been there for a long time,” says Laurien Crump, researcher of international relations at Utrecht University. ‘This while the country still has a long way to go.’
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
