Faster than other countries: EU Ambassador on Ukraine's path to EU
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
Ukraine's EU membership process could be faster than for other countries, realistically by 2030, according to EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
"I think that a couple of years may be too little," she said.
According to her, she has seen great determination and persistence in Ukraine to move quickly.
"So I actually think that in the case of Ukraine, it can take less time than it took in the case of some other countries previously. I believe that 2030 is a very realistic date," Mathernová said.
The EU Ambassador reminded that, based on past experiences, there could be reasons for reversibility. "So if, let's say, a country turned into a dictatorship, then probably – nothing is irreversible in life in that sense, right? But if you are asking whether this is a firm commitment and whether we are on the road with Ukraine to the EU, then I would say a resounding 'yes'. And in fact, this could not have been said before the full-scale invasion," she added.
Ukraine's EU membership
On June 25, 2024, formal negotiations on Ukraine's EU membership began. According to current plans, a new major wave of EU enlargement is possible in 2030.
According to a survey by the Razumkov Center, at the beginning of 2024, about half of the respondents believed that Ukraine would become an EU member within five years. Additionally, 15% believed that Ukraine would join the EU in 5-10 years, and another 5% thought it would take 10-20 years.
Previously, Estonia's Ambassador to Ukraine Anneli Kolk said that her country's EU accession took ten years, but Ukraine could achieve this faster.
