Faced with the overwhelming enthusiasm of the kyiv delegation, the European representatives strove to cool down tempers and show the enormous difficulties along the way. Ukraine, a country that is at a critical moment in the large-scale war unleashed by Russia in February 2022, formally began the negotiations to enter the European Union with the holding of a first Accession Conference in Luxembourg.
The Ukrainian deputy prime minister and head of European integration, Olha Stefanishynaassures that his country will be able to complete the process before 2030. “It has already been agreed that Ukraine will become a member of the EU and we will be able to complete everything before 2030. We trust that Ukraine can achieve it sooner,” he said in Luxembourg .
In contrast, the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, has warned that this is the “beginning of a long process.” “While today we celebrate an important step forward, we must also recognize that the road ahead will require sustained effort, dedication and further substantial reforms,” has pointed out.
[La UE usa una artimaña legal para sortear el veto de Hungría a la ayuda militar a Ucrania]
A dialogue that will take years or even decades, if the precedent of the Balkan countries is taken into account. In the case of Montenegro, the most advanced, the accession talks began on June 29, 2012. After 12 years of dialogue, the 33 chapters of which the negotiation consists have been opened, but only 3 have been provisionally closed. .
The most extreme example is Turkey.which held its first Accession Conference in 2005 and will most likely never enter the European Union.
In the case of Ukraine (and that of Moldova, which also began negotiating this Tuesday), all deadlines have been accelerated due to the war of aggression by Vladimir Putin. “When we sign the EU membership application on the fifth day of the war On a large scale, many said it was nothing more than a dream. But we made this dream come true. We achieved it, we persuaded and dispelled all doubts,” celebrated the president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Despite initial reservations, European leaders approved candidate status for Ukraine in June 2022. In December 2023, the heads of state and government made the political decision to start negotiations with kyiv, thanks to the Hungarian Viktor Orbán -who was against- left the room.
The Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Olha Stefanishyna, and the Foreign Minister of Belgium, Hadja Lahbib, during the meeting this Tuesday in Luxembourg
It took another six months for negotiations to really begin, but Hungary maintained its threat of a veto. For a start, The Orbán Government has already made it clear that it will not open any negotiation chapter during his presidency of the Council of the EU, between July and December 2024.
That is, another six blank months for Ukraine. “They are still very far from meeting the accession criteria,” he said this Tuesday. János Bóka, Minister of European Affairs of Hungary. Budapest also maintains its blockade on a military aid package to Ukraine worth 6.6 billion euros, although the rest of the partners are beginning to look for legal tricks to circumvent Orbán’s veto.
“Ukraine and Moldova know that their path will be rigorous and demanding. Accession negotiations are designed to prepare candidates for the responsibilities of membership. That is why there are no shortcuts,” the president of the Commission said, Ursula von der Leyen.
“This June 25 will go down in the history of the EU. This also sends a message to Vladimir Putin, which has attempted to weaken Ukraine and confiscate its future. But the Ukrainians have decided to get closer to the European Union,” said the Belgian Foreign Minister, Hadja Lahbib, whose country holds the current presidency of the EU. Belgium has stepped on the accelerator to approve the negotiation framework with Ukraine and organize this first Accession Conference before the Hungarian presidency begins.
Ukraine now has a long road ahead in which it will have to continue implementing the reforms demanded by the EU in matters such as the rule of law and fundamental rights, the strengthening of democratic institutions and the reform of public administration and economic criteria. .
“Particular attention must be paid to judicial reform, the fight against corruption and the protection and non-discriminatory treatment of persons belonging to national minorities,” stressed the Belgian minister.
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