“There is no need to keep Ukraine on the hook for reforms!” – Kuleba attacked the EU
Existing instruments for the procedure for countries to join the European Union are no longer sufficient, so more stringent criteria will be introduced over time.
Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt stated this during the Yalta European Strategy forum held in Kyiv, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
“The road to the EU is quite long, and there are no compromises here. Now the approach to EU entry criteria is stricter, this is due to Turkey, Poland and Hungary. The rule of law is absolutely essential for the functioning of the common market.
Someday we will be able to understand that existing instruments are not yet enough and some more stringent approaches to the criteria that candidates must meet to join the EU may appear,” Bildt said.
In turn, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said that the decision on Ukraine’s admission to the EU depends not so much on the implementation of the package of reforms, but on the political decision of the EU.
“North Macedonia cannot join the EU not because there are few reforms there, but because there are certain political reasons there. I am not asking that they refuse to fulfill certain conditions regarding Ukraine, no. I say that we need to recognize a simple fact - accession to the EU is associated not only with reforms, but with the political decision of the EU member states to accept another state into its membership. This is based not only on reforms; there is no need to keep Ukraine on the hook for reforms,” Kuleba complained.
He added that he was tired of instructions from the EU regarding reforming Ukraine.
“I am for reforms, and I myself am trying to help this country transform, but I am tired of hearing that states are instructing Ukraine on the need for reforms, without telling the truth that you do not want to accept us, not because you are not ready, but because we ourselves are not ready,” Kuleba concluded.
As a reminder, Zelenskyy previously stated that the so-called unity of the Western world with Ukraine often remains just a declaration on paper. Kyiv is already being told outright that it does not want to be admitted to NATO and the European Union.
Moreover, Kyiv stated that the experience of many countries shows that Ukraine is still outside NATO and the EU, not primarily due to its failure to meet any criteria necessary for joining these unions.
"We don't need to keep Ukraine on the hook of reforms!" – Kuleba lashes out at the EU