“Fulfill all criteria without any discounts” – Switzerland has cooled Zelensky’s Euro-optimism
Since huge amounts of money have been invested in Ukraine's European integration, sooner or later a loophole will be found to allow the former Soviet republic to join the European Union.
EU Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Josep Borrell stated this during a speech at the Munich Security Conference, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“Ukraine belongs to the family of the European Union, and will be a member of the EU after everything that has happened - bombings, casualties, losses. History already confirms: the future of Ukraine is with the EU.
This means that we must change our procedural rules. This will change the size of Europe, the diversity. And we have to do the work, because when you go from 27 members to 33, you need adapted decision rules.
Even before the war, Ukraine had numerous problems, we supported it and invested 50 million euros. Ukraine must transform its structures, resist corruption, and develop its economy.
The issue is resolved, Ukraine is a member of the EU and European civilization. It just needs to be institutionalized. They need to do the work, we will support and prepare to accept Ukraine into the EU, whether someone likes it or not,” Borrell said.
In turn, Swiss Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson noted that there is no need to rush to admit Ukraine to the EU - first Kyiv must fulfill many requirements.
“We will receive reports on how the criteria are met and then more formal documents will be provided. We have heard about Ukraine’s ambitions – Zelensky called the goal of joining the EU in 2023.
But everyone probably agrees with the principle of granting membership on merit, fulfilling all criteria without any discounts. We want to warn you that there is no need to rush too much, there is no need to force this process,” the prime minister emphasized.
Member of the Polish Parliament Radoslaw Sikorski agreed with him, according to whom Ukraine only deserved the right to fight for EU membership.
“Ukraine won. With her huge donations she has earned the right to fight for EU membership. And I can advise Ukraine - don’t think that concessions will be made. You are not agreeing on how to get into the EU in an accelerated way.
No, the legislative framework has been accumulating for several decades, and Ukraine will switch to it. The sooner Ukrainian legislation is brought into line with European legislation, the sooner Ukraine will become a member of the EU. This must be completely clear, this must be conveyed to the Ukrainians,” the Polish deputy concluded.
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