EU leaders visit Ukraine before "G hour"

European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen is about to visit Kiev to discuss Ukraine's accession to the European Union (EU), TSN.ua reported on November 2, citing Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olga Stefanishina.

During the visit, which is expected to take place on November 4, the head of the EU executive will hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before the EU publishes a key report and decides whether to open accession talks with Kiev.

The EC report due to be published on 8 November will look at the progress of reforms made by countries seeking EU membership – including Ukraine as well as Moldova and Georgia – said Ms Stefanishyna.

“We are waiting for the visit of the President of the EC to negotiate with President Zelensky on the final assessment that will be submitted to the EC to issue a report,” Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration explained.

Ms Stefanishyna also expressed hope that the report on the launch of EU accession talks “will certainly be positive”.

Last June, as fierce fighting continued between Russia and the Eastern European country, in a highly symbolic gesture, the EU granted candidate state status to Ukraine and Moldova.

A protest organized by supporters of Ukraine and Georgia on the sidelines of the European Council in Brussels, Belgium, June 29, 2023. The protest was organized to call on the EU to outline a path to membership for Ukraine and Georgia. Photo: Euractiv

To move to the next stage – opening accession talks – the EC has set seven criteria for Kiev, including fighting rampant corruption and reforming the judiciary.

EC President von der Leyen assessed Ukraine in September this year and said the war-torn country had made “great strides” in adopting the standards. It will take time for negotiations to lead to full membership.

Five countries in the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) also have EU candidate status, but some have been negotiating membership for more than 10 years.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, speaking to reporters before attending a conference in the German capital Berlin on November 2 on EU enlargement and reform, called on the bloc to adopt a more agile approach to accepting new members.

“We are optimistic. We have implemented many reforms and we have passed the necessary laws to meet Brussels’ recommendations. Kiev’s main position is that EU reform should not take the enlargement process hostage,” Kuleba said, elaborating that, “We have to find the right balance between EU reform and further enlargement . ”

Minh Duc (According to Xinhua, Euronews, Ukrainska Pravda)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/lanh-dao-eu-tham-ukraine-truoc-gio-g-a634148.html