Ukraine begins EU club talks, with high chances of becoming a member for years

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union announced club talks with Ukraine on Tuesday, a decade after Russian troops seized the Crimea peninsula to discourage the country from getting closer to the West, the latest of a series of events that It was a part that brought the two neighbors face to face. path of struggle,

Ukraine’s accession negotiations were fully prepared at an intergovernmental conference in Luxembourg. A few hours later, Moldova also announced their club talks. While these opportunities may momentarily become an important milestone on their European path, it may simply take years for the negotiations to conclude.

In opening remarks presented via video-link, Higher Minister of Ukraine Denis Shyamahal He described it as “a historic day” that marks “a new chapter” in his country’s relations with the bloc, particularly as conflict with Russia continues.

“We fully understand that we still have a lot of work ahead of us on the path to merger. We are ready for this. We have shown that we can move fast and achieve the impossible,” Schmihl said.

Belgian International Minister Hadja Lahbib, whose country recently took over the rotating presidency of the EU, called it “a historic moment for all of us and a milestone in our relations.”

Lahbib said the EU “condemns Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked aggressive war against Ukraine and salutes the resilience of the Ukrainian people,” and said the bloc would support Ukraine in the conflict “for as long and as intensely as needed.” , will continue to assist.”

Ukraine’s delegation was once led by Deputy High Minister for the European Union and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olga Stefanyshina in Luxembourg. “This is truly a historic moment for my country. The entire country stands together behind this decision,” he told reporters as he arrived for the ceremony.

Stefanishina said the hope expressed at the start of the talks would give Ukrainian voters “the moral strength to continue to tolerate” Russian aggression.

Intergovernmental meetings formally began the method of aligning nations’ rules and requirements with the 27-nation bloc, which is specifically interested in corruption in each. Still, the latest talks are not likely to begin for some months.

ukraine and moldova Russia strikes in February 2022 to join the EU in a matter of days and weeks. By June 2022, EU leaders In short it was made All authentic. However, the issues have progressed very slowly because for Kiev and the club, if it happens at all, it could take years.

Türkiye’s accession negotiations have lasted for almost twenty years without any result.

Nonetheless, the creation of the dialogue process is sending another strong signal of unity with Ukraine. Subsidies The European Union has supplied, which officials estimate at about 100 billion euros ($107 billion). It is also a show of relief for Moldova, which has faced its own difficult situation with Russia.

“This is a historic event for us in historic times for Europe and it symbolizes the strong commitment of both sides to European peace, security, stability and prosperity,” said High Minister Doreen Ryken. “We will leave no stone unturned to achieve our strategic goal of becoming a member of the European Union.”

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, neighboring Moldova has faced a series of crises that have erupted from time to time, leading to fears that the country could be Russia’s target, falsely. From missiles landing on his box to the subsequent power crisis caused by Moscow cutting off gas supplies.

“We are deeply impressed by Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine, and we are helping each other in security matters as well as in European accession, and we will continue to do so,” Resian told journalists.

Candidate countries must align their rules and requirements with EU rules and requirements in 35 coverage areas, called chapters, starting from fisheries, taxation, energy and remote movement of products to jurisdictional rights and security. It happens.

All 27 member states must give a unanimous commitment to the secret or related chapters, giving EU countries ample opportunity to demand additional actions or pursue lawsuits.

Hungary, which takes over the EU’s rotating presidency from Belgium in July, has automatically put the brakes on EU and NATO aid to Ukraine.

“We are still at the beginning of the screening process. It is very difficult to say at what stage Ukraine is. What I see here, as we speak, is that they are far from meeting the accession criteria,” Hungary’s minister for EU affairs, János Bocca, said upon arriving at the venue.

Bordering EU contributors Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania, Ukraine would, if it joins, become the bloc’s largest member, surpassing France, and shifting its center of gravity to the east. Will give. Its access as a managed grain producer will have additional impact on the EU’s agricultural coverage.

Together with Moldova, Ukraine stands in an extended line of EU hopefuls – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey – with club aspirations over the years and which have been realised. left behind Through the rapid movement of Kiev.

Ukraine wants to engage by 2030, although it must first carry out dozens of institutional and prison reforms. That challenging record has been progressed through the stages fight corruption And it includes comprehensive reforms in population management and judiciary.