Start accession negotiations with Ukraine

“The EU has granted candidate status to Ukraine, but that is not enough. Putin started a brutal war of aggression in order to steal the European perspective from Ukraine. We need to make the next step forward and open accession negotiations as soon as possible this year with the aim of granting EU membership to Ukraine before the end of this decade, providing all necessary reforms are implemented by Kyiv”, says Rasa Juknevičienė MEP, EPP Group Vice-Chair responsible for foreign affairs, ahead of today’s vote on the European Parliament’s recommendations for tomorrow’s EU - Ukraine summit.

“Bold and swift decisions on Ukraine’s European EU future will ultimately help the country defeat Putin. Sending the message to the struggling Ukrainians that their path to EU membership will take decades is not acceptable”, adds Juknevičienė.

The recommendations to be voted later today assess and address internal developments in Ukraine as a candidate for EU membership. 

Michael Gahler MEP, responsible for monitoring the developments in Ukraine on behalf of the European Parliament, encourages the Ukrainian government and political leaders to pursue the association agenda with more determination. 

“While Ukraine’s efforts and achievements are remarkable, it is also necessary to send a warning. Neither the context of war nor the expected arrival of massive international financial aid should motivate a resurrection of a power vertical and of corruption schemes. Well-functioning local government, the main achievement of decentralisation, is crucially important for reconstruction to benefit the entire society. Effective safeguards for the protection of the environment are also needed”, Gahler insisted.