Ukraine will get no special treatment on path to EU membership, commissioner says
EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos (photo: facebook.com/marta.kosmarko)
Ukraine will not receive any preferential terms or privileges during its accession to the European Union, and the proposed accession date of January 1, 2027, is impossible, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said in an interview with Corriere della Sera.
According to the EU commissioner, the integration process depends solely on the candidate country's merits and its implementation of the necessary reforms.
"Accession is based on merit: obviously, this date is impossible. There are no privileges or discounts in the accession process, but we must take into account that Ukraine is fighting a war for survival, so it is also our duty to help it," Marta Kos stressed.
She added that the European Union hopes to open as many negotiation clusters as possible for Ukraine by the end of this year.
On Tuesday, October 6, the European Commission will present an updated review of its enlargement policy.
During the European Council meeting in mid-October, the leaders of the bloc's countries will discuss four key issues:
- The impact of enlargement on existing member states;
- Internal EU reforms to operate more effectively with a larger number of members, including a possible shift from unanimity to qualified majority voting in security and defense;
- Safeguards to ensure that new members uphold the rule of law and democracy;
- The concept of gradual and enhanced integration of candidate countries.
The EU commissioner stressed that the gradual integration model does not replace full membership but allows candidate countries to cooperate more closely with the EU while meeting all the requirements.
Against the backdrop of the European Commission's statements that candidates will receive no preferential treatment, Ukrainians themselves have mixed views on the country's readiness to join.
According to a survey, half of Ukrainians believe that the authorities are not fulfilling the commitments necessary for the country's rapid accession to the EU.
At the same time, 46% of respondents hold the opposite view of officials' actions.
Meanwhile, Brussels continues to develop specific integration mechanisms.
It recently emerged that Ukraine may receive a clear plan for joining the EU in the form of special roadmaps.
The European Union is also preparing these documents for Montenegro, Moldova, and Albania to set out specific steps and approximate timelines for completing the negotiations.
Progress is also expected in the membership negotiations themselves. Media reports have revealed the date for opening two more negotiation clusters for Ukraine during the upcoming meeting of the Council of the EU.
