Brussels: The European Union moved Ukraine’s bid to join onto the next stage after a long delay – but Kyiv still has a long and tricky path ahead to becoming a full member.
Foreign ministers from the 27-nation bloc formally kicked off negotiations with Ukraine and neighbouring Moldova on aligning with a first “cluster” of EU laws.
Ukraine was stuck for some two years as Hungary’s nationalist leader Viktor Orban vetoed all progress, but his election defeat by rival Peter Magyar in April opened up the way.
“We have all waited for this day a long time and today is a day to celebrate,” said EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos at a Monday gathering in Luxembourg.
“While Ukraine is gaining momentum on the battlefield, it is also building its path towards a prosperous and secure Ukraine inside the European Union.”
But despite the fanfare – and Kyiv’s pleas for quick progress four years after it applied for membership in the wake of Russia’s invasion – that doesn’t mean the war-torn country is going to join the bloc any time soon.
In purely practical terms, a mammoth workload still lies ahead to align Ukraine’s laws, institutions, and standards with the EU’s – despite major strides already made by Kyiv, even as it battles Russia.
That involves negotiating through 35 “chapters” covering everything from the environment and agriculture to justice and security – grouped into six “clusters”.
But, as ever in the EU, the question is also deeply political and there are myriad points at which any member state that wants can slam the brakes on Kyiv.
“This is a long process. Ukraine is at war. It has organised crime issues to solve. It would be the third biggest country in the EU,” a European diplomat said on condition of anonymity.
“The prospect of Ukraine enlargement happening soon never was realistic.” — AFP
