EU accession of Ukraine: Von der Leyen rejects Kyiv

Created: 03/07/2022 10:53 am

By: Sonja Thomaser

Ursula von der Leyen (CDU), President of the European Commission.

© Yves Herman/dpa

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen does not want to comment specifically on Ukraine's EU accession.

There are also no plans to ban oil and gas imports from Russia.

Brussels - The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen (CDU*), declined on Sunday (March 6th, 2022) to comment more precisely on whether and when Ukraine* would become a member of the European Union (EU*). .

She said the Ukrainian people "belong to the European family," but added in an interview with CNN that "it would take time."

When asked when the earliest possible accession date would be, she said: "It's difficult to say ... Reforms have to be carried out, processes have to be put in place."

Zelenskyy calls for accelerated EU membership of Ukraine

Against the background of the Ukraine conflict* and the invasion of Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj* made a symbolic application to the EU on Monday (February 28, 2022) and asked for his country's accelerated membership.

Georgia and Moldova have also submitted applications.

EU membership is a year-long process that requires countries to comply with both legal and practical changes.

Other countries with pending membership bids - such as Montenegro and North Macedonia - could potentially be upset if other applications are rushed.

EU: No specification for oil and gas imports from Russia

Von der Leyen also refused to say whether an import ban on Russian oil and gas - fossil fuels on which the EU relies heavily for its energy supply - is an option the EU would be willing to consider.

Instead, she said: “We need to break free from dependence [on] fossil fuels from Russia*.

We are currently discussing in the European Union a strategic approach, a plan how we can accelerate investments in renewable energy and how we can transform our energy, for example with our friends in the USA* for LNG gas.

And other friends all over the world how to invest massively in biogas and in hydrogen from your own cultivation.

Not only is this a strategic investment in our energy security, it is also good for the climate.”

The Commission will next week outline a list of measures to be discussed by EU leaders on how to reduce energy dependency on Russia*.

(sot)