Ukraine hopes to join the EU at the same time as Western Balkan candidates.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba urged the European Union not to delay the accession process of candidate countries, including Ukraine and the Balkans, in an interview with Euronews Serbia.
“We urge the European Union not to repeat its mistakes by delaying the accession process,” the Ukrainian minister called, “not only for Ukraine, but also for all candidate countries, including, well of course, the Western Balkans”.
The minister believes that Ukraine has restarted the EU enlargement process.
He said there was “no serious discussion within the European Union about enlargement” two years ago. Accession talks with the Western Balkans were “on hold” at the time, he said.
The European Commission recommended in November the opening of negotiations for accession to the European Union with Ukraine and Moldova.
This favorable opinion will then be submitted to the decision of the European Council.
Thus, the leaders of the 27 EU member states are due to meet on December 14-15, 2023 in Brussels to decide whether to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.
