The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said, on Saturday 4 November during a visit to Kyiv, that it was possible for Ukraine to open negotiations for EU membership at the end of the year, subject to certain conditions.
In June 2022, when Ukraine was granted candidate status, the Commission set seven criteria that had to be met for Ukraine to be granted this opening (see EUROPE 12974/1).
“You have made great strides, much greater than anyone expected from a country at war. You are undergoing deep reforms, while fighting a full-scale war. The goal is truly within reach”, emphasised the President in a speech to the Verkhovna Rada.
At a press conference with the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ms von der Leyen described the progress made as “impressive”, and promised that the Commission would bear witness to this “ when it presents its report on enlargement”, scheduled for Wednesday 8 November.
According to the President, “the breadth and depth of the reforms you have passed is amazing and astonishing”. She cited the reform of constitutional justice, the selection of members of the High Council of Justice, the anti-corruption programme, progress in the fight against money laundering, the “important” measures designed to curb the oligarchs’ grip on public life, new media legislation and progress concerning national minorities.
But for Ms von der Leyen, even more is needed. She called for the anti-corruption office to be further strengthened, for the law on lobbying to be adopted, for the framework for asset declaration to be strengthened, and for the remaining recommendations of the Venice Commission on national minorities, including in the field of education, to be implemented. “These are measures that are necessary to fulfil completely the seven steps”, she explained, adding that Ukraine had already largely completed more than 90% of the work. “I am confident that you can reach your ambitious goal: that is, for the historic decision to open the process of accession negotiations to be taken already this year”, insisted the President. Mr Zelensky promised that Ukraine was working on these issues.
While the Commission is expected to deliver a positive opinion, unanimity among the Member States will be required before Ukraine can open negotiations. For Mr Zelensky, the decision to open negotiations would have a “pivotal role” not only for Ukraine, but also for Europe.
Donation of more than 370 buses
Ms von der Leyen took advantage of her visit to Ukraine to attend, together with the First Lady, Olena Zelenska, the award ceremony for the EU solidarity campaign ‘School buses for Ukraine’.
371 school buses have been delivered to representatives of local authorities in the regions of Kyiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv and Chernihiv. In particular, the European Commission has purchased 100 school buses for around €14 million and public and private entities from EU Member States have donated 271 school buses through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (see EUROPE 13067/3). The solidarity campaign was launched in November 2022. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)