25.02.2025 00:30
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has given a "green light" for Ukraine to join the Union before 2030, provided it continues at its current pace and quality.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, located in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, made statements regarding Ukraine's EU membership process.
"I CAN SAY UKRAINE MAY BE BEFORE 2030"
Von der Leyen praised the "progress" Ukraine has made on its membership path, stating, "I truly appreciate the political will that has been demonstrated. In fact, if Ukraine's merit-based process continues at this pace and quality, I can say that it may be before 2030."
UKRAINE'S MEMBERSHIP PROCESS
Ukraine applied for EU membership on February 28, 2022, four days after Russia's invasion, and received candidate status on June 23, 2022. Although the decision to start membership negotiations was made at the EU summit on December 23, 2023, Hungary's veto had not been overcome for a long time.
NEGOTIATIONS WERE HELD WITH A COUNTRY IN A STATE OF WAR
With the official start of negotiations on June 25, 2024, the EU decided for the first time to begin negotiations with a country just 2.5 years after its application date, and also for the first time to sit at the negotiation table with a country that is effectively in a state of war.