The countries of the Western Balkans can become members of the European Union, but not Ukraine and Moldova.
The PolitNavigator correspondent reports this in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta, the Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council Andrei Kortunov said.
“In recent years, the natural limits of the geographical expansion of the European Union have emerged. And it is very difficult to marry them. Especially when we are talking about some large countries. It seems to me that the Union can swallow the Western Balkans and even Serbia, it’s a matter of time. But as for the countries lying to the east, I would not rush to make good forecasts,” Kortunov said.
“I’m unlikely to live to see the moment when, for example, Ukraine becomes a member of the European Union. Or Moldova. Brussels can get everything it needs from Ukraine without the hassle of full membership. In addition, over these seven years, Europe has accumulated some fatigue regarding Ukraine: how much we fuss with it, but it moves towards us very slowly and inconsistently.
And there is not much corruption there, and with human rights, and a whole series of unresolved problems that everyone knows about. And in general, swapping the UK for Ukraine or Turkey – such a replacement would hardly seem adequate in Brussels,” summed up the RIAC General Director.