Ukraine has become an official candidate for European Union membership. All the leaders of 27 EU countries without exception voted for this at the summit in Brussels. The strategic importance of Ukraine for the EU is recognized.
From June 23, 2022, a new countdown began not only for Ukraine, but also for united Europe, which will become stronger with our state.
Our people paid a great price for the European choice during the Revolution of Dignity. In 2022, Ukrainians give their lives on the battlefield in a bloody war with russia for their civilizational choice and the right to be part of the European family. For Ukrainians who are now fighting for existence of their country, it is very important the demonstration that their country’s path to future EU membership is now officially open. Recognition of Ukraine as a valid candidate for EU membership is an important moral impetus for transformations.
We started our path to EU membership back in 1994, when we signed EU/Ukraine Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.
“You have adopted one of the most important decisions for Ukraine in all 30 years of independence of our state. However, I believe this decision is not only for Ukraine. This is the biggest step towards strengthening Europe that could be taken right now, in our time and in such difficult conditions, when the Russian war is testing our ability to preserve freedom and unity. On the fifth day of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, we applied to join the European Union. We provided extremely fast and high-quality answers to the questionnaire we received from the European Commission. And here is the desired result today. Today, I would like to reaffirm that Ukraine is capable of becoming a full-fledged member of the European Union,” said the President of Ukraine.
Granting the status of a candidate encourages the implementation of structural reforms even more intensively so that gaining full membership in the European Union does not drag on for many years. The EU has not set an exact date by which Ukraine should prove its ability to carry out reforms. The proposal stipulates that the European Commission will conduct first assessment at the end of 2022, however, in order to resume reforms in Ukraine, hostilities must end, so the deadline can be, and most likely will be, extended.
Ukraine’s future join to the EU and NATO will create real foundations for long-term peace in Europe. After all, Ukraine’s membership is a new opportunity to significantly strengthen potential of the European and Euro-Atlantic community.
It should be reminded that on June 17 the European Commission recommended granting Ukraine the official status of a candidate for joining the European Union.